Middle schools in Conway take part in a statewide campaign to ban cell phones

Conway, Arkansas – A new statewide grant pilot program that prohibits cell phones will begin in all four of Conway’s middle schools on Monday.

The program gives schools Yondr pouches, which are used to lock up and store all of the students’ phones during the school day. Pupils will store their pouches in their lockers or bags, depending on their preference.

Students and parents weigh the initiative’s benefits and drawbacks.

Greg Ellender, a parent, stated, “There are some things that kids need to call home for that they don’t want to talk to a teacher or principal or guidance counselor because it’s a known fact.”

At the start of the day, students will put all of their electronic devices—from cell phones to smartwatches and earbuds—into pouches that they won’t be allowed to open until the conclusion of the day.

According to a Yondr survey of more than 1000 schools, academic performance improved by 68% and student involvement increased by 84%.

Jamie Collins, a parent, stated, “I like the idea, but I think phones have been a big distraction for kids at school and difficult for teachers to manage.” For many years, everything was alright. I think it’s a great idea that we were allowed to contact our parents. Actually, I’m not concerned about safety at all.

You can learn more about the initiative at ConwaySchools.org.