In recent meetings, the Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD) board has discussed the possibility of implementing Yondr pouches in all schools. According to a memo from the district, the proposed pouches, which cost over $160,000, would replace the current “Phone Jail” system. The pouches would lock phones in magnetically sealed slots for the entire school day in an attempt to improve students’ mental health and keep them more engaged in the classroom.
However, just one percent of 1,288 kids surveyed throughout the district supported full-day restrictions on phone usage, and less than half of 1,366 parents surveyed supported the phone ban. Students are so adamant against the ban that they created a petition, accumulating 1,163 signatures in a month and a half. If TUHSD is genuinely dedicated to honoring student voices, as they often claim to be, they should listen to every student saying ‘No’ to Yondr pouches.
On top of the $160,000 to supply every student with a Yondr pouch, the district will spend an additional $20,000 to $30,000 annually on upkeep and replacement for lost and damaged pouches. This endeavor is incredibly expensive, and there is no guarantee it will work the way the district intends. As seen in viral TikTok videos, fishing magnets cost just $11, easily pry open the pouch, and countless tutorials exist, showing students how to break open the pouches using string and pencils. Spending this many of the school’s resources while funds are desperately needed for other necessities is nonsensical.
One of the main concerns students, parents and teachers have expressed is that the outright ban will not allow students access to their phones during lunchtime. TUHSD high schools are open campuses, meaning students are allowed to leave to purchase lunch at local restaurants. Phones are used to pay for lunch, coordinate with friends and contact the school or authorities in an emergency. Without phones, it would be unsafe for students to go off campus, as well as incredibly inconvenient; therefore, students must have access to their devices during lunchtime.
Despite the unity of the student body against full-day restrictions, the staff is more split, with 50.7 percent of teachers supporting them. Staff members have seen the detrimental effects of mobile phones on students in classrooms and some are hopeful that a full-day restriction will solve this problem. There is no doubt that taking students’ phones would limit classroom distraction and even have the potential to encourage face-to-face interaction. However, almost half of the staff, 49.3 percent, agree that a complete phone ban is an overreach. Within this survey, teachers brought up issues like safety during an emergency or off-campus lunch and concern over the price and effectiveness of the pouches.
The current phone jail system mitigates the safety issues, giving students access to their phones during an emergency while restricting usage during class time. Many teachers have begun to take attendance using the assigned phone jail slots, mandating students to put their phones in the jail if they want to be marked present. Teachers who choose not to enforce the usage of a phone jail decide to face the consequences of potentially distracted classrooms. Individual teachers’ failure to comply with district policy should not be the impetus for a district-wide ban.
Implementing Yondr pouches also prevents high schoolers from building self-control and responsibility. High school is supposed to prepare students for college and future life, yet having phones locked up inhibits students from developing restraint and personal initiative. Taking responsibility for your education is an essential skill meant to be built upon in high school.
If TUHSD actually cares about student input, they must listen to the 1,163 voices from the petition and the over 1,200 students surveyed who were against full-day phone restrictions.