ST. LOUIS, Missouri (First Alert 4) – Out of sight, out of mind is the goal for counties throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area when it comes to cell phone use.
Many districts are tightening their cell phone policies and expanding them to include smartwatches and cell phones.
“This year, we really wanted to put the emphasis on the light up or vibration sound that lets them know there’s a notification,” said Dr. Angela Thompson of Ladue Middle School, where rules require all devices to be turned off and put away or smartwatches to be in notification-free mode.
Schools like Priory, MICDS and SLUH have expanded their policies this year to reduce distractions in the classroom and throughout the school grounds.
In the Clayton School District, parents are pushing for a stricter device ban. A district spokesperson says a survey is currently being conducted throughout the school community and the information will then be compiled and presented to the school board.
Raymee Alper has one student at Ladue Middle School and one at Ladue High School and believes this measure will benefit all children in the district.
“Some kids spend a lot of time on their phones and don’t have contact with their classmates, or they use their phones to record and document things that happen throughout the day, which other kids might find uncomfortable,” Alper said.
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