On Wednesday, Jan. 10, the first day of the spring semester, the Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD) instated a new student phone policy throughout the district. The policy, as explained by the informative email sent out by TUHSD Superintendent Tara Taupier, states that, “Students will be required to place their phones in a storage unit, such as a hanging phone caddy, during all instructional time, unless otherwise directed by staff.” The consequences for breaking the new policy range from confiscation to detention, and there are few exceptions to the rules.
According to the Superintendents email, the motivation behind this decision was outlined as an attempt to improve students’ classroom experience and limit distractions. The policy cited a 2023 study by Melissa Huey and David Giguere, which linked cell phone use to higher levels of anxiety, lower classroom comprehension, and lower mindfulness.
“When we really [as a school] focus on learning, because that is our job, we’re recognizing that a cell phone can get in the way,” said Archie Williams Assistant Principal Kaki McLachlan.
Teachers across Archie Williams have held this philosophy for longer than it has been a district-wide rule; a number of classrooms were already using the “phone caddy” long before the new policy was integrated. Freshman Caelan O’Neil hasn’t experienced much change in her classroom environments, as most of her teachers have already been taking her cell phone.
“Most of my teachers have taken my phone all year long, so it’s not a big difference for me,” Caelan said. “[But] I think [the new consequences are] a little harsh.”
Even with the “harsher” additions, the policy has not met much resistance at Archie Williams and has made a smooth transition as a seemingly small change for most classrooms in the school. McLachlan believes the students will adjust fully in time, and will benefit from the policy as a whole.
“Most students have been really great at following the policy. We’ve only had a couple of cell phones brought to us, so it’s been really great. I think it might be an adjustment for some students, and I think it’s a welcome adjustment for some,” McLachlan said.
