HOUSTON – Madison High School students aren’t backing down over their dislike for the school’s new cell phone ban policy.
The ban went into effect on Monday. Students are required to turn their phones over once they walk in the door in the morning. They get their phones back during the last period.
District officials said the cell phone ban is in place to curb the amount of fights recorded on phones. The school went into lockdown last week after several fights broke out.
Students tell KPRC 2 they do not feel safe without their phones, especially if there is an emergency. Teachers selected a handful of students to meet with the principal today. Kennedie Simms said she had mixed feelings about the meeting.
“We really didn’t feel that he was hearing our concerns and our needs for each thing that we had to say. He was expressing that he understood what we were saying, but he also let us know that was something that he had no control of and that was something that was only the school board. What we need him to understand is that you can take our voices and take that up to the school board,” said Simms.
Students said a fight still broke out today.
“A boy had to have been cut because the boy had scissors in his hand. Nobody was recording the fight. I don’t even think there was any admin around.” said Simms.
KPRC 2 asked TEA commissioner Mike Morath about the phone ban today as he toured New Education System schools.
“There is a wide range of perspectives on this and instructionally what you have to create is a learning environment that allows students to focus, and so you need to setup the opportunity for students to be successful in that way, and I think for all the moms and dads that are watching they are very acutely aware of this, I’m a dad with four kids and how much screen time do my kids have, what devices do they have? My kids do not have cell phones—I don’t intend for them to have cell phones anytime in the near future, but again what we need to make sure is happening in our schools is that we’ve created an environment where it is conducive for students learning where it is conducive to students learning from one another—and that allows us to stay focused on the mission of education,” said Morath.
Students said they will have another meeting on Wednesday with an executive director.
HISD Response:
HISD’s policy states that students are not allowed to use their cellphones in the school building. Cellphones cannot be visible unless they are in a mesh or see-through backpack. Phones are to be kept in a backpack or turned in to the school once the student enters the building or at the start of first period.
If approved by the Division Superintendent, high school students may use a cellphone in the cafeteria or eating area at lunch only.
Students at Madison High School must turn their phones in when they arrive at school. Phones are then returned to them at their last period. Madison students do not have the privilege of using their phones during lunch. That is because cellphone video has been at the center of multiple recent fights on campus. This, obviously, endangers the safety of Madison students and staff and disrupts the learning environment. Neither is acceptable. HISD will continue working to ensure our students and staff have the safe and productive learning environment they deserve at school, every day.