What is it?
As of the 2024-2025 school year, the schoolboard voted on implementing a Portable Communication Devices Policy across Harford County schools. This policy affects grade level schools in separate ways.
How does this affect Fallston Highschool?
At Fallston High School, there are three key things you should know going into school with this policy. First, all portable communication devices must be deactivated and put away during instructional time. The next important rule is that there should be no photographs, video, or audio recording. Finally, no AirPods are allowed in the hallway or classrooms, unless instructed otherwise.
Although all teachers follow the policy – “From Bell to Bell There is No Cell” – what this actually looks like in the classroom all depends on your teacher’s preference for how to apply the rule. For example, Sra. Williams instructs all students to put their phone in the pouch as soon as class starts. Some teachers like Mrs. Price allow students to store their phones away in pockets, pencil cases, etc., but if a phone makes an appearance, the student is instructed to put it in the pouch.
What do the teachers think?
Many teachers have seen improvement in their classrooms. Instead of students being on their phone, they have been talking to their classmates. Mrs. J. Cummings says, “Kids are talking to each other more and they are more actively engaged with each other, which is really exciting for the PLTW classes.” Nobody can say for sure if this phone policy will improve grades because it is too early in the school year.
What do the students think?
Although many students thought this policy would be dreadful, many have realized they can go 80 minutes without their phones. “It is better than the middle school policy,” says freshman Avery Lane. “I don’t really mind it.”
On the other hand, a few students say the new policy isn’t necessary. For example, junior Joey Seman believes we should return to the old policy and pick out “the bad kids that do not follow the rules.”
Regardless of opinions, the portable communication device policy is here to stay, at least for now, and at Fallston High School, students seem to be mostly compliant and agreeable to the new restrictions on phone use.
