Private Alexandria High School Bans Cell Phones and Smart Devices During Instructional Day
Students face confiscation of Cell phones, Smartwatches or Personal Listening Devices
ALEXANDRIA, VA – Bishop Ireton High School, a Catholic preparatory high school located in historic Alexandria, at 201 Cambridge Road has adopted a “Just Say No” policy regarding cell phones, smartwatches, and personal listening devices during the instructional day for the 2024-25 school year.
The school announced the new cell phone policy using a clever YouTube video. Dean of Students William Bass and Assistant Principal for Student Life Mr. Tim Dodds outlined the new changes.
“The change for this school year is that the use of cell phones, smartwatches and personal listening devices are not permitted for students during the instructional day, nor is a student allowed to have a cell phone, smartwatch or personal listening device on their person during the instructional day. This includes lunch,” says Dodds.
Bass adds, “If the cell phone, smartwatch, or personal listening device is brought to school, it must be powered off and stored in the student’s locker or backpack during the instructional day.”
If a student is found to have one of the regulated devices on his or her person during the instructional day, it will be confiscated immediately and taken to the Dean of Students office.
Improved communication between faculty and students this year is the stated reason, and Bishop Ireton is not alone. Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS), for example, has the following guidelines for student use of personal mobile devices during the school day:
- Silenced or turned off: Devices must be silenced or turned off.
- Stored in a secure location: Devices must be stored in a secure location identified by the school, such as a locker, backpack, purse, or lockable drawer.
- Smart watches: Smart watches can be worn, but their communications features must be off.
Bishop Ireton is right on trend. On July 9, Governor Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 33, which is still in draft stage, to help bring cell phone-free education to Virginia schools, directing the Virginia Department of Education and the Secretary of Education alongside the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, State Health Commissioner, the Department of Health, and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to help parents, teachers, and students better understand the effects of cell phones and social media on children.
Aimee Rogstad Guidera, Virginia’s Secretary of Education, said this guidance was written by Virginians who said “enough is enough.”
“Virginia parents and teachers have witnessed first-hand the damage cell phones in schools has had on our youth’s academic, mental and physical health and social development. Communities are committed to implementing common sense approaches to restore vibrant and healthy learning environments for all our children throughout the Commonwealth. The Youngkin administration stands ready to support public schools, families, and communities as we change the culture around cell phones,” she added.
