News Summary
Webb School of Knoxville and Emerald Academy are collaborating with Yondr to limit student access to personal devices during school hours. Starting August 7, students must store their phones to enhance learning and social interactions. This initiative addresses concerns over excessive screen time’s negative impacts on education. With an investment of approximately $24,000, both schools aim to create a distraction-free environment, observing promising outcomes in attentiveness and engagement. The KCS policy, J-240, will enforce device storage without added resources, reflecting a national trend toward reducing distractions in classrooms.
Knoxville – Two schools in Knoxville, Webb School of Knoxville and Emerald Academy, have partnered with Yondr to enforce a new state law that restricts students’ access to personal devices. Starting August 7, Knox County Schools (KCS) will implement a policy requiring all students to store their personal devices during school hours to reduce distractions and promote a better learning environment.
The Yondr phone pouches utilize patented magnet technology that locks students’ phones throughout the school day, thereby encouraging student focus and minimizing interruptions caused by personal devices. The initiative comes in response to growing concerns about the negative impacts of constant screen access and social media on children’s education. Research has shown that teenagers spend an average of 1.5 hours on smartphones during school, which accounts for nearly 25% of the school day.
Ansel Sanders, the President of Webb School of Knoxville, highlighted the primary goal of the program is to enhance social interactions among students by reducing distractions from their phones. This viewpoint is supported by the experience at Emerald Academy, which previously implemented Yondr pouches and reported an increase in social engagement among its students.
Financially, Webb School of Knoxville has invested approximately $18,000 in Yondr pouches and unlocking systems. In contrast, Emerald Academy has spent around $6,000 last year and a few hundred dollars this year for additional pouches. Both schools have noted improvements in students’ attentiveness and focus in class as a direct result of this initiative.
The upcoming KCS policy, referred to as J-240, mandates that personal devices must be powered off and stored in backpacks during school hours. Unlike Webb School and Emerald Academy, KCS will not purchase additional resources like Yondr pouches for this enforcement. Instead, the policy outlines various consequences for inappropriate device use, which could range from warnings to confiscation.
The Yondr system has gained traction in over 2,000 schools across 16 countries and has received positive feedback regarding student engagement and interaction. This trend of limiting cell phone use in schools is part of a broader national movement, particularly observed in states like Florida, which has taken significant steps to reduce device distractions in academic settings.
In Tennessee, while there have been attempts to legislate tighter cell phone restrictions in schools, efforts to impose stricter bans have faced challenges in the legislative arena. However, both parents and teachers generally endorse the idea of banning cell phones in classrooms. They argue that doing so helps decrease distractions and fosters improved focus among students.
Nonetheless, concerns remain regarding communication during emergencies without access to personal devices in schools, igniting a debate among parents about the necessity of maintaining some level of access to technology for safety reasons. Emerald Academy’s director emphasized that the Yondr pouches align with the school’s mission of preparing urban scholars for academic and community leadership. This emphasis on leadership development reflects a growing recognition of the role that educational environments play in shaping future citizens.
As the new policy takes effect, Webb School of Knoxville and Emerald Academy will continue to monitor the effects of the Yondr system on student interactions and academic performance, contributing to the ongoing conversation about technology’s place in modern education.
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Additional Resources
- WBIR: Two Knoxville Schools Using Locked Pouches to Restrict Students’ Access to Phones
- Knox News: How Knox County Schools Enforce New Cellphone Policy
- WATE: Emerald Academy Using Pouches to Become a Phone-Free School
- Tennessean: Tennessee School Cellphone Ban Bill Advances
- Wikipedia: Cellular Phone Use in Schools
Author: STAFF HERE KNOXVILLE WRITER
The KNOXVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREKnoxville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Knoxville, Knox County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Dogwood Arts Festival, Big Ears Festival, and Knoxville Asian Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership and United Way of Greater Knoxville, plus leading businesses in healthcare, education, and energy that power the local economy such as Covenant Health, University of Tennessee, and Tennessee Valley Authority. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBristol.com, HEREChattanooga.com, HEREMemphis.com, and HERENashville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Tennessee's dynamic landscape.
