NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Buhler USD 313 Superintendent Cindy Couchman said a change in cell phone policy at Buhler High is going well.
"Before this year, the students were able to have their cell phones basically out and about as long as the classroom teacher said it was OK, and so some teachers utilized the cell phone in classroom," Couchman said. "Then sometimes kids had them out when they shouldn't have had them out during the hour and probably were not paying attention, but there was probably a little bit of both. This year, they put in a new policy that said you can only have your cell phone out between passing periods and at lunch. And so during the actual class time, the cell phone must be in the book bag in a way and shut off or put on silent. I will tell you, it's gone really well. The students are very cooperative with the policy. We haven't had any discipline issues, any referrals. It's gone very well. The families have been very supportive of it."
She added that real interaction is happening instead.
"Families have been supportive," Couchman said. "Ironically, we even did a look at checkouts at our library of books. And since we've put this policy in, the number of checked out books compared to last year has really risen, and it goes to show you, when they're done with their assignment, instead of just getting out their phone and playing or being on apps, they are now reading. I know our aides in the office have put together more puzzles than they've ever put together in a short amount of time when they're done with their work, so there's some really great benefits. You hear a lot more talking at lunch and a lot more talking in the hallways and kids interacting."
The kids have to help keep each other on task.
"They're just all on the honor system," Couchman said. "They have to keep them away. If the teacher sees them out, they can send them to the office. There is some discipline referrals, but we really haven't had any of that. If the teachers have seen them out and they say, remember that needs to go in your book bag, kids have just not had them out. They know the expectation and as with most people, when you set the expectation, hold them accountable. Most people go along with it because they understand, even the students really can reflect on it and say, yeah, it's probably been a good change for us."
If you have questions about the policy, you can contact Couchman at [email protected].