How Multi-Tiered Safe Pouch let educators stop phone distractions, reduce tardiness, and re-engage students while putting students' safety first.

Several reasons why a cell phone ban in school would be impractical, counterproductive, and unsafe.

Some schools have a cell phone policy that bans cell phones during school hours. Students must store their cell phones in their lockers or designated areas during the day. Some schools require all students to put their cell phones in a pouch when on a school campus and during school hours, which students cannot access or operate unless they are open using a key.

In a world where technology is constantly evolving, schools must keep up with the times and prepare students for the future. Banning cell phones in school would be an ineffective policy that would do more harm than good.

For one, a cell phone ban would be nearly impossible to enforce. With so many students carrying phones at all times, it would be a logistical nightmare to collect and confiscate them all. And even f phones were successfully confiscated, students would find other ways to access them – through friends or family members, for example.

A cell phone ban would also prevent students from using their phones for educational purposes. Several apps and websites can be used for learning, and many students use their cell phones to access these resources. Banning cell phones would limit students' ability to learn outside the classroom.

Finally, a cell phone ban would significantly inconvenience students and families. In an emergency, a cell phone is the quickest way to reach a parent or guardian. If there were a fire or another type of crisis at school, students would be cut off from their parents if they didn't have their phones.

In recent years, there have been several mass shootings in schools. In many cases, these shootings could have been prevented if students had been able to use their cell phones. For example, being able to call for help during an active shooter situation could save lives. Locking all students' phones instead of having them available creates a safety risk for the students and staff.

A cell phone ban would also prevent students from using their phones to record evidence of bullying or other types of harassment. In some cases, this footage has been used to help hold perpetrators accountable and bring about change. The potential benefits of cell phone usage during an emergency are undeniable.

Having unclear and impractical cell phone policies is like having no policies.

However, having no cell phone or relaxing policies can also harm students' well-being and learning.

An example of an ineffective cell policy is a policy that gives students multiple warnings before taking action. For example, a common consequence first consequence for a first violation is a verbal warning and asking students to put it away. Then, a second violation would be confiscating students' phones, and the teachers will contact the parents/guardians. A third violation would be referred to the administrator for further disciplinary consequences.

The policy is not practical because it is not enforced consistently. If students know that they will only receive a warning for the first offense, they will likely continue using their phones in class. Even though the policy does address what happens if a student continues to use their phone after receiving multiple warnings, it is impractical for any teachers to keep track of how many times each student violates the policy. Even when teachers refer students to administrators for third violations, very few administrators will have the time and resources to take it seriously. They send them back to class. However, the policy is outdated as it did not address the issue of how easily students can use their phones secretly in class. The lack of clarity and impractical consequences makes it difficult for teachers and administrators to enforce the policy. Consequently, having such impractical cell phone policies is almost like having no policy at all.

Other Dangers of Ineffective Cell Device Policies in Schools

Cell phones have also been used to engage in cyberbullying and bullying others. In some cases, students have used their phones to record footage of themselves bullying others and then posting it online. This can be extremely harmful to the victim and can lead to lasting psychological damage. In other cases, students have used their cell phones to send threats or derogatory messages to others. This behavior can create a hostile and unsafe environment for all students.

In some extreme cases, students have been driven to suicide after being bullied. In one case, a 13-year-old girl named Rebecca Ann Sedwick killed herself after being cyberbullied by two classmates. The girls had sent her messages telling her to kill herself, and she eventually did. This tragedy highlights the very real dangers of bullying and cyberbullying.

For all these reasons, it's clear that a cell phone ban in school would be impractical and ineffective. Instead of banning phones, schools should focus on teaching students responsible use. Cell phones can be a valuable tool in the classroom if used correctly. With the right policies in place, students can benefit from using their phones while maintaining focus and attention in class.

Effective cell phone policy and solution with Multi-tiered Safe Pouches.

After a tragedy happened at one of my feeder schools, I invented the Multi-tiered Safe Pouch to stop cell phone distractions and misuse of smartphones in school. Most importantly, the Multi-tiered Safe Pouch and proven implementation solution allow all staff to work together as a team to make school discipline procedures more positive, impactful, and immediate. Multi-Tiered Safe Pouch is a teaching tool, an impactful consequence, and an incentive. Let's examine how it is possible in today's classrooms and schools.

First, we must look at how the unique built-in safety features and other innovative features of Multi-Safe Pouch works. First, the pouch's unique centered hole allows students to access and control their phones. Most importantly, the Dividing Mechanism is NOT a lock and key mechanism., but it effectively prevents students from taking their phones out while still allowing them to access and control their phones inside. Instead, the pin of the Dividing Mechanism effectively converts a pouch opening into two openings to prevent students from taking their phones out. The thin pin maximizes the possible sizes of two openings to let students access and control their phones inside. During an emergency, students can still access and control their phones to make an emergency call.

Most importantly, the Dividing Mechanism does not use any key; instead, anyone can use any magnet with strong-enough strength to release the inserted pin in seconds. Because there are no specialized keys, schools can purchase as many magnets for all of their teachers and other staff. Anyone can use the magnet to release the pin in seconds during an emergency. More importantly, it prevents schools from blindly enforcing policies that ban cell phones in their schools because anyone can buy magnets online to release the pin.

Another essential safety feature is the two different tiers of Safe Pouches. Each tier uses a different magnet with a different level of pull force. The Blue Safe Pouch only needs a small and portable magnet with a little strong pull force, but the Orange Safe Pouch needs a larger magnet with a much stronger pull force. How does having multi-tiers Safe Pouch put students' safety first and empower teachers and administrators to transform schools slow, ineffective, and punitive disciplinary procedures and consequences?

To understand how it works, we need to look at the proven cell policy other teachers and me implement in our classes and schools.

SAMPLE OF EFFECTIVE AND PROVEN ELECTRONIC DEVICE POLICY

EXPECTATIONS

Before entering any classroom, students must put their phones, earbuds, and other electronic devices in their backpacks or bags. Students may use it only when instructed by the teacher.

FILMING/TAKING PICTURES ON CAMPUS WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION

Students who photograph or otherwise record people without their permission or whose device is visible while in test environments, bathrooms, school fights, or private events or locations will have their phones taken from them and kept by a school official until it is determined that no criminal activity was committed.

CONSEQUENCES

1st to 3rd Offenses:

Option 1: Immediately pouch up your device in a Blue Safe Pouch. The teacher will unpouch after class.

Option 2: The teacher confiscates the phone and returns after class.

After 3rd Offense:

Option 1: Immediately pouch up your device in a Blue Safe Pouch. The teacher will unpouch after class. Referral.

Option 2: The teacher confiscates the phone and gives the phone to Main Office. Parents need to pick it up after school. Referral.

Your teacher may contact your parents/guardians

Mr. Crane Implements Blue Safe Pouch and Cell Phone Policy in his 9th Grade Biology and 11th Anatomy Classes.

First, the policy tells what all students must do before they enter any classroom--put their devices in their backpacks instead of other places. Also, it also addresses the problems with earbuds because many students are listening to music in class. Students would hide their earbuds behind their hoods or hair. The clear and specific expectations and directions prevent students from arguing with teachers that "they were not using it." If the device is in their backpack, it is out of sight. Even if students have it in their pockets, they would be afraid to take it out in class.

Second, to implement the policy above, schools would assign teachers a set of 10-15 Blue Safe Pouch and a small magnet to release the pin of the Blue Safe Pouch's Dividing Mechanism. When students violate the rule for the first or second time, a teacher can enforce impactful and immediate consequences without wasting instructional time or dealing with possible conflicts of confiscating students' phones. Students' phones are in a Blue Safe Pouch, and they cannot touch them again. Students are given two choices, but choosing to pouch up their phones in a Blue Safe Pouch and keep them at their desks is much easier. There are no more meaningless verbal warnings, and it instantly stops phone distractions. Likewise, it sets examples for other students in class, so more students will not be tempted to take their phones out of their backpacks.

Most importantly, only a few students who violated the policy have to pouch their devices, so many will still have their phones. If there s an emergency, many students can call emergency numbers to get support immediately.

Also, students can pass around the small magnet to release the pin of the Dividing Mechanism to remove their phones in seconds during an emergency.

If a student breaks the school policy more than once, the teachers will call their parents. If the student doesn't stop breaking the policy, the teachers might refer them to the administrators. But if administrators use Orange Safe Pouch, they don't have to waste their time and resources enforcing impactful consequences. They need to pouch up the students' phones and take students' IDs for at least one school day. Students get their IDs when students return the pouch after school. The Orang Safe Pouch is more effective than suspending students from class so it would reduce the school's over-suspension numbers. For many schools, most administrators try not to suspend students because it negatively affect the school's Dashboard. Many schools' policies fail because most administrators have no choice but to send students back to the classroom without any impactful consequences. With Multi-tiered Safe Pouch, it is no longer a problem for administrators and classroom teachers.

Those students with Orange Safe Pouch can still access and control their phones to answer and make calls since they keep the pouches and their phones with them. More importantly, a few students will pouch up their devices in Orange Safe Pouches so that many other students can contact emergency during an emergency.

Multi-Tiered Safe Pouch gives struggling students a level playing field.

Some teachers allow their students to use phones in class. The teachers feel they can't stop their students from using their phones, so they might as well not try. When students use their phones, they are not paying attention to the lesson and not participating in class. Unfortunately, most of these students are high-risk students who might not pass if the teacher does nothing about it. That is why all teachers need to have an effective policy that uses a Multi-tiered Safe Pouch so that all students have a fair chance at success.

The many benefits of a Multi-Tiered Safe Pouch do not stop there. Other teachers and I use Blue Safe Pouch as a positive incentive to help struggling students. For example, we call the parents of students who fail to provide help through MTSS. If those students have their phones in a Blue Safe Pouch during class, they get extra credit. If a teacher has extra Blue Safe Pouches, they can also offer the extra credit opportunity to other students. Ultimately, it effectively turns Blue Safe Pouch into a positive teaching tool instead of negative consequences.

The Pouch Point Reward System is an excellent way for students to put away their phones before class starts. Students can earn points by putting their phones in the Blue Safe Pouch, and the teacher releases them at the end of class. We have an auction where students can use their points to bid for prizes each week. Any leftover points will be turned into extra credit at the end of the grading period. This way, you discourage phone use in class, and your students are also learning math and entrepreneurship skills!

Many students come to class early to get their pouches when there is a limited number of Blue Safe Pouches, reducing the number of tardy students.

Multi-Tiered Safe Pouch can help reduce suspensions, tardiness, and classroom management problems.

It's also no secret that school administrators are forced to limit suspension. Simultaneously, suspending students does not work because it does not address the root of the problem. It s also a punitive measure that does not teach students anything. When students are suspended, they often miss out on valuable instruction time. They also tend to feel resentful and disconnected from school. Finally, suspending students can lead to a spiral of bad behavior that is hard to break. These factors make suspension an ineffective way to deal with students' repeated minor misbehaviors.

Phone distraction in class is a big problem, but the Multi-tiered Safe Pouch is an effective and practical solution. With Multi-tiered Safe Pouch, administrators can take students' phones and IDs without suspending them from class. The Blue Safe Pouch can be an impactful and practical consequence and a positive incentive to help struggling students. The Pouch Point system is an excellent way for students to put away their phones before class starts. Not only is the Multi-tiered Safe Pouch effective, but it is also impactful and practical.

Administrators can use the Orange Pouch as an alternative to suspensions for minor inappropriate behaviors. For severe violations, administrators can also use Orange Safe Pouch with suspensions. It is not a secret that most challenging students do not care about getting suspended. Those students are only afraid of suspensions because of their parents' reactions. However, students without any support from parents will not care about suspensions. Instead, some would brag that they got suspended, as a badge of being bad.

However, all of these students care about their teen images and are addicted to cell phones. When those students return from suspensions, administrators will follow up by pouching up those students' phones in Orange Safe Pouch for at least a school day to help students make a positive transition to school. Most importantly, it helps remove those students from the toxic content on social media that has been spreading since they were out. Often, those toxic online conversations escalate into more school fights and possible events that endanger other students. At the same time, it set examples for other challenging students in positive and effective ways.

All teachers should consider using the Multi-tiered Safe Pouch in classrooms to stop phone distraction and help their students succeed.