Grafton High School cracks down on cellphone use in the classroom

 

GRAFTON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- More and more Wisconsin schools are cracking down on cellphone use in the classroom. Grafton High School is among the latest in our area.

The principal of Grafton High School, Scott Mantei, tells us what they're implementing is not a cellphone ban, but rather a change in policy. The new rule forces students to be without their phones for a majority of the school day, but not the entire day.

"It's a great idea. I think that it really will help the kids to stay focused in school," said Lisa Ritz, Grafton High School parent.

"It's difficult. It's a distraction," said parent Tess Tilley.

Parents are reacting to the change at Grafton High School that separates students from their cellphones.

"And I think it'll be great for teachers because then the students will learn more and be more in class than on their phones," said Ritz.

Last year, students could have their phones in class as long as they were "out of sight," but that didn't exactly work.

"If a teacher saw you on it, they would ask you to put it in your cubbie, but no one really - no one did it. I didn't do it," said Grace Tilley, Grafton High School sophomore.

Now, at the start of each 85-minute class, students must leave their phone in a cellphone caddy located near the teacher's desk - not a popular decision for all.

"For me, personally, I prefer to listen to music while like working on stuff. It just helps me concentrate, so I feel like for me, it was just better to have my phone on me," said Josh Pritzlaff, 2023 high school graduate.

A Pew Research survey in 2023 found 72% of teachers say cellphone distraction is a major problem in the classroom.

"The notifications that are constantly coming through, the constant prompts...if you're thinking, I can't miss this message, I need to answer this, what's going on here? So, when we eliminate that, we eliminate some of the distractions and they can be more focused," said Donetta Walker, with Divine Wellness and Counseling.

But being without a phone in hand can lead some young people to feel more anxious.

"Just in case anything happens, really, like in case of emergencies we have to leave our backpacks and everything in the school," said Pritzlaff.

"I think it would be great if they had some kind of drill, to say in the event of some type of emergency, this is how you will obtain your phone. This is what we will do. This is how you can connect with your parents, so that that can lessen some of the worry for someone who may not know what to do," said Walker.

A conversation that's underway in Madison is the consideration of a statewide policy on cellphones in schools. State Senator Dan Knodl, from Germantown, tells us legislation may be coming after the November election.