Middle Schools Salk and Flett, trailblazers for school phone bans

Spokane: So, here’s the scoop. Spokane Public Schools is shaking things up with a new cellphone policy. Before the district made a big move, Salk and Flett middle schools were already on it. They noticed that kids were glued to their screens and not really connecting with each other after the pandemic.

Last fall, these two schools decided to ban phones during school hours, except for lunch. It was a bold step, but they felt it was necessary. Amanda Connelly, an interventionist at Flett, pointed out that kids still need some boundaries, even in middle school.

The ban started at Flett, and soon after, the whole district jumped on board. Now, students can only use their phones between classes and during lunch. It’s a pretty fresh approach for the area, especially since another district had already tightened its phone rules a year earlier.

The staff at Salk and Flett backed their decision with research showing how too much screen time can mess with kids’ developing brains. They wanted to take control of what they could, and phones were a big part of that.

Emily Ahlborn, an eighth-grader at Flett, shared how tempting it is to pick up a phone, even when there are better things to do. She described it as a kind of shackle. Connelly also mentioned that many issues kids face on social media often spill over into school life, which was a real problem before the ban.

Before the restrictions, students were recording each other without consent and posting videos online. There were even anonymous accounts on TikTok and Instagram where kids would post photos and ask if others thought they should “ship” or “dip” certain pairs. It created a lot of drama and negativity.

Once the ban took effect, those accounts started to disappear, and students felt safer in the hallways. The whole school community had to get on board for the ban to work, and it seems to be paying off.

Kids are now engaging more with each other, playing games, and having real conversations instead of being glued to their phones. Salk and Flett are focusing on providing more activities to keep students busy.

Salk’s counselor, Lyndsey Sabo, even got a grant to buy board games for students. Flett has pingpong and foosball tables set up, and kids are enjoying their lunch breaks with music and dancing.

The schools are also promoting various clubs to keep kids involved. Teachers are stepping up to lead clubs that interest them, and students are finding new hobbies and interests outside of their devices.

With the phone ban in place, kids are becoming more curious and willing to participate in class. They’re asking questions and engaging with their lessons more than before.

Eighth-graders like Ahlborn are now role models for the younger students, showing them that it’s okay to take a break from their phones. She believes that seeing older students without their phones might encourage the new sixth-graders to do the same.

Overall, it looks like Salk and Flett are making a positive impact on their students’ lives, and it’s exciting to see how this will shape the future of their school culture.