Schools
San Mateo High School Takes 'Phone-Free' Stance
Along with textbooks, locking devices for students' cells were handed out this year, making school among first in U.S. to shut down chatter.
SAN MATEO, CA — Students at San Mateo High School in San Mateo, along with this school year's registration materials and textbooks, were handed Yondr pouches, locking devices for their phones— a move that puts the school among the first in the nation to create a phone-free space.
Assistant principal Adam Gelb told a news outlet that a pilot project tested last year with 20 students is now campus-wide, with the intent of keeping youth engaged.
"I really think it's about being present and engaging in the adult that's trying to teach you, your peers that might be in your small group. That's part of the main philosophy that we're trying to preach," Gelb said in an interview with ABC7 News.
Find out what's happening in San Mateofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
San Francisco-based, start-up Yondr is dedicated to creating "phone-free spaces for artists, educators, organizations and individuals." The company's specially designed cases hold and lock a phone once inside. The company says it is working with teachers and principals to create phone-free learning environments in schools, classrooms and testing centers.
"I really think it's about being present and engaging in the adult that's trying to teach you, your peers that might be in your small group. That's part of the main philosophy that we're trying to preach," Gelb said to ABC 7.
Find out what's happening in San Mateofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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