Cellphones Banned During School Hours at Portland Public Middle and High Schools

Portland public middle and high school students will no longer be able to use cell phones or smartwatches during school hours.

The blanket ban applies to passing periods and lunch breaks and was approved 5 – 2 on Tuesday by school board members.

Students Balk at Prohibition During Passing Periods and Lunch Breaks

City high school students generally agree that cellphone use in classrooms is distracting but balk at the prohibition of use during passing periods and lunch breaks.

The five school board members who voted for the total ban during school hours say if students are allowed to keep their phones in backpacks, the temptation of long bathroom breaks for scrolling sessions during class hours becomes a distinct possibility.

They also point out that most brawls and bullying occur during passing periods and lunch breaks and that these incidents are often uploaded onto internet platforms.

Off-and-Away Policies Already Implemented at Several Portland Schools

Several Portland schools have already implemented off-and-away policies in which students are expected to store their devices in backpacks, pockets, or lockers.

Several schools have also introduced storage facilities for student phones, such as lockboxes. However, enforcement of the off-and-away policy has been left to individual teachers.

Exceptions to the New Rule

There are exceptions to the new rule, however.

Exceptions will be granted to students on individualized education plans who use their devices to communicate and to learn. An example of this is journalism classes where phones are used to record interviews and to take pictures.

The new policy does not include any undertaking to purchase lockable pouches for middle and high school students attending public schools in the district. School authorities have estimated that lockable facilities would cost $750,000 annually.

The two board members who opposed the new policy are Herman Greene and Gary Hollands. They believe students should have access to their devices during passing periods and lunch breaks.

School Superintendent Will Have to Implement the New Policy

The implementation of the new policy will be left to Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong to enforce. It is well known that Armstrong does not believe lunch break restrictions on cellphone use should apply. Armstrong says some students have raised concerns about safety issues, especially those who leave campus during the lunch break.

Also, if lockable pouches are not provided, district educators and administrators say it will be difficult to enforce the off-and-away policy.