Hoover High joins growing list of schools banning cell phones in classrooms

Hoover High School in Des Moines is among schools increasingly restricting cell phone use in an effort to improve students’ mental health.
The school’s new policy allows students to keep their phones in their school bags or lockers, but they are not allowed to use them during class.
There are exceptions, for example if a teacher asks his students to use their phones during class.

On the first day of school at Hoover High School, students milled around chatting with friends, listening to music and checking their phones as staff members greeted them in gray T-shirts with the school’s Husky logo and the words “Hoover Mental Health Movement.”

Once inside, however, the cell phones were quickly put away. It’s part of a new school policy aimed at improving mental health, in part by limiting cell phone use in school.

Hoover isn’t the only school to restrict cell phone use. A growing number of districts in Iowa and across the country are restricting their use, fearing that kids are spending too much time looking at social media, which can have a debilitating effect on their mental health.

Florida, South Carolina and Louisiana have passed laws banning or restricting the use of cell phones in schools.

In May, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory that social media “may pose a risk to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.” The advisory noted that up to 95% of teens ages 13-17 say they use a social media platform, with more than a third saying they use it “almost constantly.”

The concerns were enough for Hoover leaders to restrict cell phone use in schools, in an effort to reconnect children with their schools and neighborhoods.

“We’re trying to reconnect kids to their community,” Hoover Principal Quynne Kelly said. “And so I hope they had one experience today that made them think, ‘You know, I belong here. I’m proud of where I’m from, the northwest side of Des Moines.'”

Where Hoover Kids Can Still Use Cell Phones

While Hoover students are still allowed to keep their phones in their school bags or lockers, they are not allowed to use them during class. There are exceptions, such as if a teacher asks students to use their phones during class.

Students are also allowed to use their phones between classes and in the cafeteria.

The focus on improving students’ mental health and limiting cell phone use in schools is a passion of Assistant Principal Robert Randazzo. While visiting classrooms, Randazzo began to notice how many students were using their devices.

“So many students (were) disconnected from learning because they’re on their phones,” he said. “The other thing is just not on their phones, but I would say we had about 30-40% of our students wearing at least one AirPod throughout the day.”

Staff told Randazzo that no one wanted to be the first to implement a strict cell phone policy, so he got the green light from Kelly to work on a schoolwide policy. What he read convinced him even more that restrictions were needed.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 5.8 million children ages 3 to 17 nationwide are diagnosed with anxiety. Another 2.7 million are diagnosed with depression.

Federal health officials report that depression and anxiety among children ages 6 to 17 have increased significantly, from 5% in 2003 to 8% in 2012.

Armed with data showing that anxiety and depression were already rising among young people before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted daily life, Randazzo created presentations for staff, students and parents that addressed the harm that technology and social media can do to students and offered some solutions.

Students and their families play a critical role in the success of Hoover’s program, which is being piloted by the Des Moines School District.

Convert screen time to community time

To strengthen the sense of community among students and staff, authorities organized a pep rally on Monday, where students learned school songs and cheers.

In addition, students will receive passes to school sporting events to cheer on their classmates. Staff also plan to host parent nights to meet and connect with families.

Staff are also expected to adhere to the mobile phone policy in the future, including Superintendent Ian Roberts.

“While I carry my personal phone and my work phone, I want to make sure I always put my cell phone away when I’m in a building,” Roberts said.

However, not all students agree with the new cell phone policy, with some finding the limits too strict.

Senior Connor Knowles thinks cell phones should be allowed outside of class time, noting that some students need their phones during the day.

“I think it doesn’t take into account all the people who need their phones for things like tracking their diabetes, keeping in touch with their doctors, keeping in touch with their parents when they have to go to appointments,” Knowles said. “It just doesn’t take into account a lot of things.”

Related: Dallas Center-Grimes Bans Cell Phones in High School Classrooms at Start of School Year

Data shows negative impact of social media and technology

Dr. Stephen Mandler, a child psychiatrist and chief medical officer at Orchard Place in Des Moines, says he’s increasingly seen the negative impact of long-term social media use on his patients over the past 10 to 15 years.

While many young people can use social media without relying on it for social contact, others experience significant barriers due to the technology.

In young children, Mandler sees decreased attention span and slower cognitive development. Adolescent and teenage patients struggle with increased social isolation and symptoms of anxiety and depression, which Mandler said many of his patients continue to struggle with well into early adulthood.

He supports the new policy of banning mobile phones in schools, and he is convinced that this step will be beneficial for the students.

“The evidence is very clear that this is not good for your child’s long-term mental health and emotional well-being,” he said.

Related: SEL teaches children to deal with their emotions. It is attacked as ‘woke’ indoctrination.

Thirty-six percent of Iowa 11th graders reported persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness in the 2021 Iowa Youth Survey, the most recent state data available. Twenty-nine percent of eighth graders and 27% of sixth graders reported similar feelings.

Additionally, the study found that one in four 11th graders reported having thought about suicide in the past year, and about half of those students reported having made a plan, the report said.

The state announced last year that it would stop conducting the Iowa Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which began 30 years ago.

Related: Will test scores rise if there are no phones in schools? Ankeny considers a district-wide ban

Des Moines Public Schools has been working for some time to be more proactive about student mental health, Roberts said. If Hoover’s mental health pilot program is successful, it could be rolled out districtwide.

Roberts hopes that parents will support their children and embrace Hoover’s mission. This will allow students to connect more with their classmates because there will be fewer distractions.

“Ultimately, I think the hope is that we will see a decrease in some of the mental health crises that our young people have been experiencing,” Roberts said. “I hope that, more importantly, we will see a significant decrease in medical diagnoses such as suicidal ideation.”

Related: US Surgeon General: It’s Critical We Do More to Protect Our Kids from Social Media

Raising awareness about mental health care

Officials at Des Moines East and Lincoln high schools have also implemented policies regarding cell phones.

Des Moines Public Schools is also taking a more active approach to helping students access mental health services by introducing mental health telehealth through Hazel Health this school year. The program is part of a $1.5 million investment from UnitedHealthcare to expand access to mental health services for youth across the state.

Related: Students at Urbandale will soon be returning to school. Here’s the news for the 2024/2025 school year:

Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District is another school district in the metro area that is implementing a ban on cell phones, headphones or other electronic devices that can be used for personal communication during class, in the hallways and in the restrooms. There are some exceptions, including if a student has a documented need. Smartwatches are allowed, but may only be used to check the time and count steps.

The Ankeny, Waukee and Urbandale school districts are also considering restricting cell phone use.

Related: Rural Iowa is facing a mental health crisis and school leaders want more help

Des Moines school administrators know it’s unlikely that parents will actually restrict smartphone use or access to social media.

Randazzo realizes that he cannot solve the problems associated with anxiety and depression alone, but his research has taught him that something must be done.

“I’m going to be part of the solution,” he said. “I’m not going to stand by and not be part of it. So no, there’s not a single thing that can cure anxiety and depression, but if the research says I can be part of it, then I’m going to be part of it.”

Samantha Hernandez writes about education for the Register. Reach her at (515) 851-0982 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @svhernandez or Facebook at facebook.com/svhernandezreporter.

Michaela Ramm covers health care for the Des Moines Register. She can be reached at [email protected], at (319) 339-7354 or on Twitter at @Michaela_Ramm.

Where Hoover Kids Can Still Use Cell Phones

Convert screen time to community time

Data shows negative impact of social media and technology

Raising awareness about mental health care

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