BROKEN ARROW, Oklahoma – As the new school year begins, Union Public Schools wants to remind families of their cell phone policy that they will be unavailable throughout the day.

The policy was introduced two years ago to increase student engagement.

Grade 8 principal Michelle Cudy said the main thing is to make sure students stay focused.
“When we first launched this, we received overwhelming support from our community,” she said.

“Our parents were 100% clear about how important it is for students to switch off and focus and not be so distracted by cell phones.”

Pupils in grades 6 to 8 are prohibited from using mobile phones all day long – including during lunch breaks.

“We want our kids to talk to each other. We want them to really interact,” Cudy said.

“When you’re not looking at your phone all the time, you’re actually interacting with the world around you. And that’s how you develop your social skills, your personal, real-life social skills,” she said.

Rebecca Gray’s son is entering 9th grade this year.

She agrees with the policy.

“As a human, as an adult, I know how hard it is to concentrate on the day when we have our phone with us all the time,” she said.

“If it’s not outside, they can’t lose it often.”

She says that this policy also serves to protect data privacy.

“Pictures and videos that our child does not want to have taken of him also serve to protect his right to privacy.”

She says her son seemed unaffected by this measure.

“He follows the rules,” she said.

“I know everyone has their own opinion, but he believes that if there is a rule, everyone knows what is best.”

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