Big Spring High School teacher, Kelsey Hernjak, is using a new idea to try and stop students from using their phones in class. At the beginning of the spring semester, Hernjak began using the “Phone Bin” to help her students focus better in class. This is a small box at the front of her class where students keep their phones inside while she is teaching. She uses a number system, with each seat having a number that correlates to a number on the phone bin, to have each student keep their phones away during class. Hernjak got the idea for the phone bin from another teacher who had good results when she used it in her classroom. Hernjak said, “I got the idea from another teacher through Instagram.”
Many students dislike the phone bin and would rather use their phone in class than do work. However, some students said that the phone bin does help them focus and do better in class. Sophomore, Daniel Katora, said that he can focus with or without his phone and doesn’t think that the phone bin should be required for all students. Katora said, “It’s definitely a good thing for certain people, but I don’t think everybody should have to do it.” While Hernjak has not been using it for very long, she stated that students’ grades and focus have improved compared to last semester. She said, “students are more focused on the work in front of them instead of worrying about the text or update from their phone.” However, the student handbook states “At no time should cellphones be seen, heard, or used during academic classes, unless for instructional purposes with specific permission by the teacher.” Based on this quote from the student handbook, the phone bin should be unnecessary, but other teachers have begun using new policies regarding phones.
Jennie Ortiz, another English teacher directly across the hall from Hernjak has a different policy and tactics to curb phone use. Her current policy allows students to use them during a break given in the middle of the class, and during independent work to play music or use after all of their work is done. Many students like this policy because it allows them to use their phones but still get work done when needed. Sophomore, Brian Goulet, said, “It gives a good balance.” This is interesting because the one reason Hernjak decided to use the phone bin is because of students using phones during time given in class to do work. However, Ortiz doesn’t like students using the phones in class, and even stated that if she knew more about the phone bin and it showed good results, then it could be something that she would consider putting in place for her classes.
Many students have begun ignoring policies and using their phones anyway. Sophomore student of Ms. Ortiz, Conor O’Leary said, “I’m on it like the whole class.” This is another one of the reasons that Hernjak was convinced to use the phone bin. Kids have begun using their phones throughout classes regardless of teacher permission, or the need for it. According to edweek.org, “Nearly all students—97 percent—use their phones at some point during the school day, for a median of 43 minutes, the study found, or about the length of a full class period in many schools.” This shows just how much teachers are needing to use new techniques to deal with phones.
