As many are already aware, Yondr pouches will be introduced at Leaders High School on October 30th. These pouches are designed to securely lock phones, keeping them inaccessible during school hours. Essentially, the goal is to enhance student engagement in classrooms. But, it’s not that simple.
Students Weigh In
In the light of the upcoming transition, many students have different thoughts and opinions on the matter. Leaders sophomores, Amina and Hadia stated, “We think it’s unnecessary because kids can still use social media on the computers, so it doesn’t really change anything.”
Other students like Theo, a freshman student, stated, “I think it would be helpful to focus in class without my phone distracting me. However, having my phone is a good way for me to wind down and get ready for the next class.”
Staff Opinions
Dean, Mr. Anderson said, “As a staff member it will be more helpful to keep the students engaged. It should also bring less drama between students, because we see a lot of incidents happening through social media and texting, a lot of things get brewed on social media.”
Similarly, Ms. Barnes, ninth grade English teacher, said, “I’m in favor because it will cause less distraction in the classrooms because kids are having a hard time now self-managing their cell phone usage. But I’m also against it because of emergencies and with everything happening now, I feel like everyone needs to be in touch with each other.”
Yondr pouches
Yondr pouches were first introduced to New York City school’s in 2019. Since then many schools have been using them, such as our neighboring schools, Sports Management High School and L.I.F.E Academy High School. In a recent statement, Mr. Mullen emphasized that as of next year, all DOE schools across the city will be using Yondr pouches.
While the goal is to promote better learning environments, the question remains: Will this change enhance student engagement as intended, or will it lead to frustration and resistance?