Phone policy

In response to rising concerns about distractions in the classroom, the administration has implemented a new cell phone policy requiring students to place their phones in Velcro-sealed envelopes before class starts. They can only retrieve them at the end of class or when instructed. This is part of a nationwide shift to stricter phone policies in high schools.

This policy stems from an increase in academic dishonesty, inattentiveness during class, extended group bathroom breaks and the use of earbuds in class, many of which are linked to cell phone use. Campus supervisor Ric Calhoun (he/him) said it’s too early in the year to see any major changes. However, he does see fewer students leaving class to to use the restroom. Robyn Votava (she/her), who teaches Pre-IB World History I and IB Theory of Knowledge, said that she has already noticed less phone use among her students. 

“(I’ve seen) a lot more engagement between the students themselves, and with not feeling so negative that we’re having to spend time on asking students to put their phones away,” Votava said, “I feel engaged and energized, and I just enjoy teaching more again.” 

In contrast, senior Riley Anderson (he/him) said there may be more effective approaches. He would prefer a policy where students only have to place phones in a velcro envelope if they got caught on their phones. Nevertheless, he said the phone policy is effective overall. 

“I think it has gotten people to use their phones less,” Anderson said, “For people who would have been on their phones, they can’t be on their phones because they’re in the pockets.” 

Even with the changes to the phone policy, there are still several drawbacks. Anderson said that many students refuse to put their phones in the envelopes, and while some might appear more focused, they are not necessarily more attentive.

“I think they’re probably more engaged because they can’t use their phone,” Anderson said. “If they take their phone out, it’s a little more risky. But I feel like they might be — I don’t myself — so I feel like they might be thinking, ‘Oh, I wish I was on my phone.’”

Still, the goal of the change is to help students. Calhoun said that a district-wide policy on phones could be easier to enforce while addressing additional issues phones pose to teens. 

“Just unplugging during the school day from your devices has a positive effect on not just your education, but also your mental health,” Calhoun said. “They also found that a lot of times the more time you spend on your cell phones, they’re seeing an increase in anxiety and tension disorders and things like that. So I’m interested in seeing how that changes as we move forward.”

Locked door policy

The district requires doors that lead outside to be locked during class, a policy aimed at improving school safety and campus security in response to growing concerns about school shootings nationwide. 

“Part of the reason Inglemoor is different than the other high schools is that it’s a little bit older; that’s why they’re starting to rebuild it,” Calhoun said. “Unfortunately, one of the things that we continue to see across the nation are school shootings and things like that. One of the small pieces that they’ve identified that can deter some of the damage done in a shooting is just a simple locked door.”

He said that since shooters generally try to maximize damage, they often move on when faced with a locked door.

While the locked door policy is primarily driven by safety concerns, it has also improved student punctuality. Calhoun said that the locked doors seem to help students get to class on time. 

 “We’ve seen positive effects on tardiness,” Calhoun said. “Kids in general don’t want to have to be the one knocking at the door.”

Some students and staff may find the locked doors to be an inconvenience, but ultimately, the goal is to create a safer environment. Anderson said the policy has been helpful.

“Sometimes I sit near the door in some of my classes, so I have to keep getting up to go get the door for someone who went to the bathroom, and it gets a little annoying,” Anderson said, “For safety, though, I think it’s very good. I remember they were talking about that’s why we introduced the policy.”

PE shirt policy 

  Students are required to wear an Inglemoor Viking shirt during gym classes with the goal that by wearing the shirt, those who don’t feel like they’re part of a team will feel more connected with their peers. PE teacher Kamille Skinner (she/her) said from what she has noticed so far, it’s been effective overall. 

“Students have been engaged more,” Skinner said, “I’ve noticed a lot in Life Fitness, which, granted, most of those students are ninth graders, so coming from middle school, they’re used to suiting up for PE, and so I think it’s just kind of a natural progression for them. I think that for the upperclassmen as well, they don’t feel as uncomfortable getting sweaty because they’re not wearing their clothes that they’ll be wearing to the next period.”

Still, for upperclassmen, Skinner said it might be an adjustment for them, especially since it’s been a few years since PE has had clothing requirements outside of appropriate shoes. She said that there will always be students who don’t follow the rules.

“Most of the teachers here have a five-point system, so each student starts off the period with five points,” Skinner said. “They keep those points by being active the whole period, following expectations, wearing the correct shoes and a Viking shirt.”

Skinner said that, similar to dressing for a job, students need to dress for physical activity. Her goal is to get everyone to participate and enjoy PE as much as possible. 

“We want students in each of the PE classes to feel like they belong,” Skinner said. “And I think it’s even more important when we’re doing some kind of physical activity, whether it’s weight training or team sports, to see that we may not all be on the same level as far as athletic ability, but we’re all on the same footing. We’re all Vikings, and we’re all here together.”