Removing cell phones: Quad-Cities schools trying to get kids to talk to each other again (2024)

Editor's Note: This is third piece in a three-part series about cell phone policies in Quad-Cities schools.

Students are talking to each other again, said teacher Scott King.

King has taught physics at United Township High School for more than two decades, and he's noticed a change since the district implemented more restrictive off-and-away cell phone policies last school year.

King said he saw a 100% benefit in overall engagement in all six of his classes. Without cell phones or personal devices distracting students, he said learning has increased more than it has in the last four years.

“It has promoted kids to start talking to each other again,” he said.

Before the policy changes, he said, many United Township students did not engage with one another, whether during classroom “downtime” or during class group work time.

Anna Fank, a Spanish teacher at Bettendorf High School, echoed this. She said her students were also quick to pull out their devices during downtime in the past as well.

“People in general, we go to our phones instead of interacting with people by (us), next to us or around us,” she said.

Now, King said, students have no choice but to engage with one another, and as a result, he has seen more friendships formed in this last year than ever before.

“They couldn't just go to their own little space and be on their phone,” he said. “So, not only was it great educationally, but I think personally, for these kids, it worked out really, really well as well.”

Overall, King said his classrooms adjusted rather well to the policy implemented last year. During the 2023-2024 school year, he said he only had to send two students to the office for cell phone or personal electronic device usage.

Expect academic improvement without phones

Davenport Central High School leaders and staff hope to see an increase in academic achievement as its classrooms go phone-free — with phones locked away— next school year. Principal Brian Ehlinger suspects they'll see improved social-emotional skills, too.

“We (hope) to see students start to talk and deal with each other on a more human level,” he said. “I mean, the research is very definitive in what cell phones have done for (students’ mental health), so by limiting its use while they're at school, we hope there's some improvement there.”

As Moline High School continues its transitions to stricter cell phone policies, history teacher Trent Lamphier hopes to see similar results.

“I’m a veteran teacher … I can remember 5-10 years ago, kids were talking to each other,” he said. “Now, it’s dead silent, because every kid is just on their phone, and there’s no natural collaboration. They are so into their phones, their ‘own world,’ they’re not communicating with each other."

Face-to-face communication is a key element of Fank’s foreign language curriculum— an area she said has improved since Bettendorf schools’ revamped its middle/high school cell phone policies in the summer of 2022.

“They do take those conversations seriously, and they are (engaged),” she said. “I have seen people grow in my class … so I do think that does help having that technology out of the equation.”

Fank said she’s even seen friendships form via classroom collaboration. She said her students follow Bettendorf High School’s personal device policies well overall, and she sets clear expectations in her classroom from day one.

“(Substitute teachers) will leave a note saying ‘I never saw a phone once,’ ” Fank said. “... Even when I’m gone, they know (off and away) is the expectation.”

Intermediate school aims to improve classroom engagement

Williams Intermediate School in Davenport will pilot Yondr phone pouches this upcoming school year. Since cell phones have become Williams students’ “biggest distraction,” Principal Eric Johnson also hopes to see increased classroom engagement.

Johnson said he and other building leaders will use standardized testing and behavioral referral data to gauge the pilot’s effectiveness.

“We are also hoping for improved scores on our Conditions for Learning Survey,” he added, an annual, state-mandated survey.

Are cell phone bans the solution?

Bettendorf High School parent Ashley Essex doesn’t think going to a full-blown cell ban would be “advantageous.”

“One, because kids are pretty addicted to them,” she said. “And two, because there is a lot of downtime where it’s appropriate for students to have their cell phones – I just don’t think, during active class time, they should have them out. It's just too much of a distraction.”

Noting the rapid pace of modern technology, Bettendorf Superintendent Michelle Morse said the district will step back and reflect on its cell phone policies each year, making updates as needed.

While she can see “advantages and disadvantages” to implementing a ban policy, Morse said she’s still doing some learning around that.

On this front, Lamphier said a ban policy would need “complete buy-in” from district teachers and parents.

“Otherwise, it's not going to work,” he said.

As Moline High School ups its consequences for cell phone use next school year, principal Chris Moore said school leaders plan to explore a cell phone ban for the 2025-2026 school year.

It will take everyone to make policies work

Ehlinger said it’s important for school leaders, staff and families to join forces in navigating how to make cell phone policies and procedures “work” for all parties.

“We need admin supporting students, parents supporting admin and have parents supporting students,” he said. “That’s probably going to be the most valuable piece.”

Brett Johnson, a parent of four in the Davenport schools, agrees. However, he said the district could do better at promoting school board meeting participation or host other, more family-specific forums to gather input on cell phone policies.

Incoming Bettendorf High School junior Cecilia Spector suggested school districts focus on empowering teachers to consistently enforce cell phone policies, along with exploring controlled options for student enrichment.

“There are a lot of eyes and scrutiny on teachers … but it’s also so difficult, trying to keep (all) students engaged,” she said. “Some kids may be able to listen to a 40-minute lecture, but not all kids will be ‘taking it all in’ for that time.”

Rather than allowing students to use their phones or personal devices during non-instructional downtime, Spector suggests providing other, more engaging options, that don't involve phones.

Surveys, focus groups could help guide districts

Moving forward, Morse said she could see Bettendorf schools conducting cell phone-related focus groups.

“(Stakeholder) input is always important to us,” she said. “If we did any surveying, we’d use that information (to) help us guide other adjustments.”

With any form of technology, Morse said educators have a responsibility to help students learn how to use their devices responsibly – much like workforce expectations.

“We all use technology to get our jobs done, so how do we use those in a responsible, ethical manner to be successful?” she said.

This is North Scott schools’ approach, supplemented by a district-wide “digital citizenship” program – a framework, embedded into grade-level curriculums, to teach students how to use technology in a safe, appropriate manner.

“I think the battle of (student distractions) will be ongoing, and cell phones definitely play a role in that – but I’m not convinced removing them entirely solves that,” said Dan Marceau, assistant principal of North Scott High School. “I think there are other things we can do to build that level of engagement or ownership for students.”