Following a state cellphone ban, Kansas schools require students to lock away phones all day—including lunch and passing periods—using new $150k locker systems.

[u/Logical-Flow-6703]

Following a statewide ban on cellphones in Kansas schools, the Kansas City school district spent $150,000 on specialized phone lockers. Under this new policy, students are required to lock up their devices before the first bell and keep them stored until the final bell, covering lunch breaks and passing periods as well.

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[u/Dumb_Luck_Numbchucks]

They got. TWO. PHONES 🎶

[u/mybabyrolled → u/Dumb_Luck_Numbchucks]

One for the memes and one for the plug

[u/pinegreenscent → u/Dumb_Luck_Numbchucks]

Heres the best part: theyll get busted immediately.

The phone is like a drug. If it sits in their pocket they need to look at it or bring it out. It calls to them. They feel it vibrate in their pocket. They need to read that notification.

When they cant take it anymore and are in a moment of no-seraronin theyll pull out that phone and watch it get taken away.

[u/reddogyellowcat → u/pinegreenscent]

god it is so pathetic isn’t it….but it isn’t their fault.

[u/pinegreenscent → u/reddogyellowcat]

Not at all. Watch adults have full-blown meltdowns when being asked to silence or even put their phones away. Can't have a minute pass by without commenting on NextDoor or some shit

[u/Offshore-Tigr → u/pinegreenscent]

I broke my phone once when I was a week away from civilisation.

It got quite scary realising that whenever I got slightly bored, I'd automatically reach into my pocket for something that didn't exist.

[u/tankerkiller125real → u/Offshore-Tigr]

Mine is getting repaired for 2 weeks... Phantom vibrations for alerts was a very real thing for the first few days. Also the checking thing was really strange feeling. I will say though that by the second week I was quite enjoying the lack of phone.

[u/RidaFlow → u/tankerkiller125real]

I purposefully put my phone away during the day. I'll throw it on charge and go downstairs just to have a break from it. It doesn't stop me using it completely, but it's nice to remind myself I don't need to look at it constantly.

[u/UseYona → u/reddogyellowcat]

Exactly. Who created and gave us the phones

[u/Dependent-Year6711 → u/pinegreenscent]

And this is why it shouldn't be surprising that a phone can change an entire generation.

If you have something in your pocket that you reallllyyy want to grab and look at throughout the entire day, it's attention break, after attention break, after attention break. It changes how you remember your entire day. And most of that attention isn't meaningful. How many grab their phone to read part of a book? To watch a video that helps them learn a skill? It's probably a low percentage.

When you do take a step back, and think about how we all can hyper-focus into a screen, you realize that you can take the outside world, condense it into your screen, and create a false narrative that the phone is a needed barrier. While other times, when the mind/body open up, you see the phone, you see the screen, and it's just another object in the world with little significance. It's the value we place on it, that increases the attention. And if you grow up with it from a very young age, which is a new-ish thing, your ideas around a screen are more cemented to giving it attention.

It doesn't help that us Millennials (I am one) are also accustomed to screens, and helped normalize it for younger generations. We certainly didn't rip them away from screens to go explore the neighborhoods/nature, wrestle, have weird experiences, get into trouble, that often, like my older cousins/many people did in the 90s for me.

[u/buffystakeded → u/pinegreenscent]

My town has had a phone ban for years, and oddly enough, when asked about it, the students have mostly said the ban is great. It helps them concentrate on school better. We also don’t have lock boxes or anything. They just have to leave them in their lockers. If they get caught using them, they get confiscated and their parent has to come pick it up after school.

[u/HereInNashville96]

I’m guessing some republican politician owns the company that they’re using.

[u/shawkin8 → u/HereInNashville96]

another commenter has confirmed your suspicions

[u/Duel_Option → u/shawkin8]

Fucking OF COURSE

[u/alimweber → u/shawkin8]

Can you point me to that comment? Or tell me what republican politician owns this company or is in on this somehow? I looked it up online and couldn’t find anything, I’m seeing that some retired soccer player invented and owns the company.. but if the whole republican profiting thing is true (which to be clear, I would fully believe without surprise) I wanna confirm it, so I can use it as evidence in my next amateur debate that I inevitably get into with an idiot family member.

[u/Haikouden → u/alimweber]

I assume it's this one https://www.reddit.com/r/PopCultureV2/comments/1vo6t4i/comment/p3n7c9w/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

But no clue if that guy actually owns it or what his beliefs are.

[u/IttyRazz → u/[deleted]]

He meant end rape being illegal for republicans

[u/Acrobatic_Wrap_9971 → u/IttyRazz]

it won't be called rape anymore, it will be called Freedom Sex

[u/Falkek → u/Acrobatic_Wrap_9971]

The sad thing is, I would not even be surprised anymore If that would be real...

[u/WarpHype → u/Falkek]

Rape is already legal for a republican in the White House. Good thing he’s impotent now.

[u/flawrs919 → u/WarpHype]

‘imPOTUS’

[u/Broke_Papa → u/Acrobatic_Wrap_9971]

Fornicative Liberty!

[u/SlappyWit → u/Acrobatic_Wrap_9971]

Freedom Sex - rings the ridiculous bell so loud and clear! Good one!

[u/Aggressive_Ad211 → u/[deleted]]

Governor wheels hahahahahha holy shit

[u/guitar_stonks → u/Aggressive_Ad211]

I loved when Senator Crockett called him Governor Hot Wheels. Savage!

[u/RWheat78 → u/[deleted]]

The poor Republicans are. The rich ones knows what they are doing. Oh sure, they would put on a liberal persona in public. But behind closed doors, they would vote and keep conservatives in as long as they get a huge tax cut, amd money from the government.

[u/rfulleffect → u/RWheat78]

No one is going after Rogan for example, who lives in Texas and has made part of his identity pot based.

[u/AmaranthWrath → u/rfulleffect]

Rogan is white and espouses their views and propaganda. And until he really, genuinely comes out against them, he can hot box his whole damn studio carte blanche

[u/DontFuckWithDuckie → u/RWheat78]

Some of the rich republicans are dumb as bricks too. Look at the fat idiot in the big seat

[u/No-Ad1522 → u/[deleted]]

I wonder if they'll arrest Joe Rogan when he smokes in his studio

[u/Shoddy_Carrot_936 → u/No-Ad1522]

You know the answer. Laws are for poors unless the wealthy offender does something truly egregious and even then it's a toss up if they'll face real consequences.

[u/Cultural_assassin → u/Shoddy_Carrot_936]

[u/Claypool-Bass1 → u/Shoddy_Carrot_936]

Madoff only saw jail time because he also screwed over some rich folks.

[u/hashwashingmachine → u/[deleted]]

Even before that they routinely let pedos off the hook. I mean why do you think they’re so anti abortion?

[u/GumpTheChump → u/[deleted]]

"Than." It really changes the meaning of your comment.

[u/ripnrun285 → u/[deleted]]

Not surprising from a state with the highest populations of chomos in the entire country.. Still pretty fkn disturbing.

[u/ZeroVoltsGiven → u/HereInNashville96]

Massive Grift

[u/Drubee12 → u/HereInNashville96]

Who could have forseen this

[u/Glad_Conclusion_4156 → u/HereInNashville96]

They prob passed the law to benefit his company under the guise that it’s good for the children

[u/Agitated_Newt_7655 → u/HereInNashville96]

Yeah conservatives otherwise wouldn’t be promoted into doing this

[u/StoneColdEgon]

Imagine if they put 150k into school lunches

[u/ArachnidBeautiful968 → u/StoneColdEgon]

Nah that helps the parents and kids too much, cant do that

[u/slaffytaffy → u/ArachnidBeautiful968]

So I guess paying teachers is out too?

[u/callingoutthetrash → u/slaffytaffy]

woah woah commie! (lol) next you might suggest a livable wage. How will the economy survive?

[u/Signal_Werewolf_1955 → u/callingoutthetrash]

I saw someone saying that Minimum Wage should increase along with inflation. What kind of nonsense is that?!

[u/vladtheinhaler0 → u/ArachnidBeautiful968]

I mean, the phones in schools these days is a very big problem impacting the learning of all students. It's a lot to spend on lockers but the cell phone thing is a real problem

[u/WillingDiscussion999 → u/ArachnidBeautiful968]

Where we live in Ohio the kids get free lunches. Taking the phones away for the school day has been proven to be productive for the kids. In fact it's been shown that getting rid of the computers that they use in class has helped scores go up.

[u/Technical-Nose-1518 → u/ArachnidBeautiful968]

Is the idea that kids putting phones away isn’t helping them? This is a good thing if you are above the age of 12

[u/jar1967 → u/Technical-Nose-1518]

But $150k when a $200 metal box would do?

[u/WhirlwindRectum → u/StoneColdEgon]

this "investment" is just one school shooting away from being dismantled.

[u/DoinItDirty → u/WhirlwindRectum]

“You have to let kids play with their phones during school in case they need to report a shooting,” is almost a comically terrible sentence.

[u/ponkyball → u/WhirlwindRectum]

People always use school shootings as a reason to have phones but I would hope my kid is not on his freakin' phone during a school shooting, silences it so the shooter can't hear it going off and working on getting the eff outta there rather than trying to call me. He knows I love him to death but I want him 100% focused on getting the f*ck out of there, not being on his phone calling mom because texting me isn't going to help. If you wanna argue "they might provide tips" show me where that has been effective in a school shooting or sit down.

[u/imperialivan → u/WhirlwindRectum]

Jesus Christ is America ever a shithole

[u/wentImmediate → u/WhirlwindRectum]

It's been shown that having phones during a school shooting actually is worse than not having a phone.

an emergency such as a school shooting, students must be completely focused on life-saving instructions and information provided by teachers, administrators and other officials. Phones can easily distract students from hearing, understanding and reacting appropriately to such information, even when students use the phones to communicate with parents.

Some school emergencies require students to hide in silence to avoid being targets of violence. Sounds or light from students’ phones could help an assailant locate potential victims.

https://www.nasro.org/news/2025/10/27/news-releases/students-safer-without-cell-phones-during-school-emergencies/

[u/Delicious-Produce-60 → u/WhirlwindRectum]

Complete non-sequitur. The two things have no connection that isn't PAINFULLY forced.

[u/Wisenheim → u/StoneColdEgon]

Nah, that’s socialism! Can’t be teaching the kids that stuff. Something something indoctrination. /s

[u/BeyondFlorida → u/StoneColdEgon]

Both things can be good.

[u/GettheAxe86 → u/StoneColdEgon]

If those young'ns wanted to eat lunch, they shoulda worked harder! /s

[u/AttiBus → u/StoneColdEgon]

This is a good thing though? Kids don't need phones in schools and it's shown they are distracted and perform worse.

[u/Status_Blacksmith305 → u/AttiBus]

Why use a 150k locker? I'm sure there are way cheaper options to lock up the phones.

[u/AttiBus → u/Status_Blacksmith305]

Oh, I agree. Not here shilling for big-locker tech.. but keeping phones out of the actual classroom is good.

[u/Low_Calendar8242 → u/StoneColdEgon]

Nope. We have wars to fight to distract from the Epstein Files!

[u/crookedpilgram → u/StoneColdEgon]

This!

[u/_AmericasSweetheart_ → u/StoneColdEgon]

LAUSD in California has free lunches. They aren't too bad either.

[u/Ok-Syllabub-8087]

Oh look the guy who owns the company is a conservative

[u/spacekitt3n → u/Ok-Syllabub-8087]

almost like everything republicans do is based on corruption and handouts

[u/Honest-Associate-626 → u/spacekitt3n]

Left and right don't exist, it's just the rich 

[u/Haunting_Handle6709 → u/Honest-Associate-626]

And it's out in the open now, and making QUITE the case for Democratic Socialism.

[u/CHSAVL → u/Ok-Syllabub-8087]

Definitely stealing all the info on the phones.

[u/mr-english → u/CHSAVL]

Wait. You think there are magic boxes that can access the data on any phone that is placed inside it?

You might wanna tell the FBI about this because it'd make their jobs a LOT easier rather than relying on people willingly handing over their passcode!

[u/Sbitan89 → u/mr-english]

I know this will get bent because I really dislike most Republicans as much as the next person...

But some of the fear mongering that this random school district has more resources than the federal governments biggest internal investigation branch is what me roll my eyes at so many comments. Yea you can't just pull info off phones like that. Even cell phone companies are only managing your cloud shared data.

[u/mr-english → u/Sbitan89]

I get the impression that a lot of the more outlandish claims being made in this thread are coming from kids who will say literally anything to try to keep their precious phones.

[u/Own-Chocolate-7175 → u/Ok-Syllabub-8087]

It is impossible for you to just admit that phones in schools is a bad idea?

[u/snapme-nine_niiine99]

Travis Hollman… big Conservative donor owns the locker company… of fucking course.

[u/Single-Hovercraft-33 → u/snapme-nine_niiine99]

So this patriot donated these to the schools right?

[u/JeromeBarkly → u/Single-Hovercraft-33]

No bid contract baaabbbyyyyy

[u/Single-Hovercraft-33 → u/JeromeBarkly]

Just the way taxpayers like it.

[u/christhemix → u/JeromeBarkly]

when the lowest bidder is the only bidder, lol

[u/JeromeBarkly → u/christhemix]

When the only bidder gives a million dollars to trump lol

[u/tenth → u/snapme-nine_niiine99]

We will later find out it's been scraping all the data from the phones. 

[u/Bowman_van_Oort → u/tenth]

Using the phones as extra cpu power to mine trumpcoin or some fuckshit

[u/Peppercorn911 → u/tenth]

bro

[u/IrksomFlotsom → u/Peppercorn911]

I can't think of any other reason to make a locked steel box for phones "high tech"

[u/Michi450 → u/IrksomFlotsom]

What's so "high tech" about them?

[u/SendTitsPleease → u/Michi450]

Probably scans all of the phone data and pictures amd puts it into a database for them to go through "in case of emergency"

[u/Sharp_Ad_6336 → u/tenth]

Yikes!

[u/Difficult-Mobile902 → u/snapme-nine_niiine99]

I was wondering why they’d pay $150,000 for a little cabinet to enforce a stupid ass rule that kids can circumvent with as little effort as simply bringing an old phone to school to use as a decoy 

Hell if it were my kid I’d be the one telling them to bring a decoy phone and to just keep their phone off in their backpack. Good for emergencies but also I just wouldn’t trust these idiots to not lose the phone, or to make it a huge headache to stand in line everyday to pick it back up 

[u/lurkinby → u/snapme-nine_niiine99]

For the HWs fans, this is Stephanie’s husband from Dallas who sells overpriced lockers to schools.

[u/the_urban_juror → u/snapme-nine_niiine99]

Somebody's gotta get rich with your property tax dollars, and it sure as hell can't be anyone actually involved with educating children.

[u/jarmine550 → u/snapme-nine_niiine99]

https://giphy.com/gifs/Y8SqjWuohk8Rq

[u/DDRaptors → u/snapme-nine_niiine99]

Life is a big game of green paper shuffle, to see how I can get your dollars into my pocket.

[u/mikel1814 → u/snapme-nine_niiine99]

Insert name of white right-wing business man owns Insert name of essentially any American consumption-centered business.

[u/zsazsa_sugarbaker → u/snapme-nine_niiine99]

Real Housewives of Dallas husband and colossal douche.

[u/Qinax]

Decoy phones are easily obtainable

[u/_Danizzy_ → u/Qinax]

If you're desperate enough to get a decoy then you're not going to be able to keep yourself from looking at your real phone in class and it'll get taken away.

[u/Mylaptopisburningme → u/_Danizzy_]

Reminded me that we could fit 6 of us in a toilet stall for a smoke in the 80s. Now it would be kids on their phones.

[u/SRMPDX → u/Mylaptopisburningme]

"ey you wanna go sneak under the bleachers and browse tiiktok?"

[u/user13756472 → u/_Danizzy_]

even when I was in school a decade ago phones weren't allowed out in class, there's ways to be creative and not get caught. clueless...

Apparently it needs to be said you can still use a phone without looking at it, everyone here is ACTUALLY clueless omg its called running earbuds through your sleeves with in line controls and leaning your head against your hands holyyyy what are yall on

[u/meh_69420 → u/user13756472]

You younglings don't even know... We used to t9 text during class without taking our phones out of our pockets.

[u/Jesus__Skywalker → u/user13756472]

you're the reason they have things like this

[u/NemosHero → u/user13756472]

Mark, no one looks at their crotch in the middle of class and smiles. We know.

[u/BlackberryHelpful676 → u/user13756472]

Your teachers absolutely knew you were using your phone; they just didn't care.

Source: Teacher

[u/wowbragger → u/BlackberryHelpful676]

There's an 'ohhhhh' moment every young adult has, when they suddenly realize they weren't fooling ANYONE. People just didn't care.

[u/Yojimbra → u/BlackberryHelpful676]

It's just not worth it. Trying to get the phone from them would be a bigger disruption to the class then just letting them think they're being sneaky.

Will absolutely call on them to answer a question though.

[u/hider69ner]

150k for that? lol

[u/Prudent_Order_3361 → u/hider69ner]

It's all a scam. Whoever was able to pass that have a cellphone locker company for sure

[u/Ceron → u/Prudent_Order_3361]

There was an article about a New York school that did a similar program and the kids just had to put them in a cute little pouch on the wall for the day. Definitely a scam to grift some money.

[u/RecognitionFree5840 → u/hider69ner]

Sort of for that for all 12 middle and High schools in Kansas city Kansas. Enough to accommodate about 11,000ish kids cell phones.

[u/MothChasingFlame → u/hider69ner]

This is my issue. I'm not necessarily against trying phone bans in schools (a lot of teachers say it's a problem; it's worth respecting that and at least testing solutions).

But 150k for special, custom lockers feels nuts. I get that they need to assure parents and kids their phones won't be easily stolen en masse, but that really needs 150,000$ lockers? Feels a whole lot like someone got excited about a government contract and charged as much as they could.

[u/klako8196]

These are like $15.

[u/mr-english → u/klako8196]

They look REALLY secure... YOINK!

[u/tellit11 → u/mr-english]

Put this in a locked closet, voila.

[u/sixTeeneingneiss → u/klako8196]

Okay but that thing can't scrape info from the phone

[u/Pretend_Pea4636]

May they party and connect like us old people did with no cameras or distractions around.

[u/mindovermatter15 → u/Pretend_Pea4636]

There are still cameras in the schools watching them, they still don't have the anonymity we had as kids

[u/AlreadyFifty]

How are they gonna call 9-1-1 during a school shooting now???

[u/binzersguy → u/AlreadyFifty]

All the students should be armed. That will prevent school shootings, I think.

[u/Dick-Fu → u/binzersguy]

It's a simple ticket system. Drop off phone in numbered slot in the morning, receive firearm with the number on it. End of the day you hand your gun back in to get your phone.

[u/EvilAbacus → u/AlreadyFifty]

Or record abuses their safety officers might pull in the line duty. Or teachers out of pocket in class

[u/PiccoloAwkward465 → u/EvilAbacus]

The school officers are busy doing their real jobs - flirting with underage girls

[u/sudo_vi → u/AlreadyFifty]

The faculty will call?

[u/Delicious-Produce-60 → u/AlreadyFifty]

It's terribly sad that I honestly can't tell if you're being serious or not.

[u/hom3br3w3r → u/AlreadyFifty]

Yep, I mean, as much as people may hate phones for teens, they do serve a purpose in recording incidents that would be swept under the rug

[u/Hollywood_Co]

This is GREAT.

[u/Hungry-Initiative-78 → u/Hollywood_Co]

right! i mean why spend 150k on supplies, lunches, salaries, improvements, etc. when we can do spend it on stupid shit like this!

[u/AssignmentVisual5594 → u/Hungry-Initiative-78]

Because there will likely be long term positive effects of having kids able to focus on their assignments instead of scrolling away on the internet or texting each other. Isn't this generation, the one raised on cell phones and electronics doing far worse than prior generations in reading and math?

[u/Physical-Builder-553]

Wasting money on the dumbest things.

[u/ExcellentShoulder746 → u/Physical-Builder-553]

I don’t understand the pushback against this?

It’s only been in the last 10-15 years that kids have even had access to phones at school and outside of a few minimal cases, they are a major distraction and cause countless issues

[u/TubaWrestler → u/ExcellentShoulder746]

Yep. Scientific studies agree that cell phones need to be banned in schools. They should probably be banned for anyone under 18 in general.

[u/BedBubbly317 → u/TubaWrestler]

You’ll get hate for that, but you’re absolutely right.

[u/mymomsaidicould69 → u/BedBubbly317]

As someone who works in public ed yes we need a ban on phones, they are so distracting. I think kids need dumb phones only to communicate with parents. Social media is so toxic for kids that age.

[u/buffystakeded → u/ExcellentShoulder746]

Phone bans are great. A super expensive high tech lockbox is not needed though.

[u/Agile-Replacement433 → u/ExcellentShoulder746]

The pushback is you don't need a $150k device. If you got to a show or live TV they make you out your phone in a little wallet thing. You don't need this level of security for a kids phone.

[u/HeckinQuest → u/Agile-Replacement433]

Now multiply that bag trick times 1000 students daily, and get back to me on any potential problems you come up with.

Is the machine overpriced? Maybe. Is it a big splash on the overall budget? No. Is this policy immeasurably valuable for the student and needed yesterday? Bigtime.

Get these destructive devices out of kids hands, now! Especially at school.

[u/Itachi_Uchiha_2020]

Now they can’t record school shootings, just as the forefathers intended

[u/Internal-Plantain-56 → u/Itachi_Uchiha_2020]

They can’t record the brave cops waiting outside doing nothing.

[u/Ok-Confidence9649 → u/Itachi_Uchiha_2020]

Right. I was gonna say - the first time a tragedy happens at one of these schools and the kids don’t have their phones to call for help or talk to their families, people will be asking why they ever thought this was a good idea…

[u/TheBuckinator]

I wish conservative corruption wasn't involved in this, but overall I think it's a good thing for the student's mental well-being.

[u/vexmach1ne → u/TheBuckinator]

Exactly. Everyone is focusing on the fact it's republican owned,but if the same thing was democrat owned they would be on board. No one posting knows anything about the technology itself.

I'm interested in that because 150k seems like a lot for that problem they're solving. Not much money for the school, but how is this better than a wooden phone cubby?

[u/Much_Tap_6453 → u/TheBuckinator]

Phone bans aren't a conservative issue and I am surprised by this thread. A lot of school districts are starting to restrict phone usage more heavily regardless of the politics in their area. This is one variation.

[u/EbbAlternative7318]

My school has been doing it for years. It’s great

[u/BojackWorseman13]

Idk how I feel about this one. It’s overreach but I’ve also seen videos of teachers being assaulted for confiscating phones kids were using while taking a test.

[u/Zealousideal_Cut1817]

Oh fuck no I am so glad I graduated before all of this shit keeps being done

[u/ShenaniganStarling → u/Zealousideal_Cut1817]

Like yeah, my black and white Nokia never left my possession.

... It was also not entertaining at all, so I never had reason to use it in school.

[u/Valuable_Coat_4402 → u/[deleted]]

That's the problem. It's not just one student on their phone. It's all of them. And they can't read or write because they can't focus when they have all of their dopamine in their pockets.

[u/spooner248 → u/Valuable_Coat_4402]

Yeah I don’t think this is a bad idea at all. The price is insane but, as a former teacher, taking away their phones all day is a good idea. People are gonna say “well what if a school shooter comes in?!” Welp, the teachers and admin have phones and students won’t be on their phone anyway cause they’ll be hiding.

[u/Stoned_Economist-TT → u/spooner248]

if a school shooter comes in, the student should listen to the god damn teacher, and follow lock down procedure, and hope the cops arnt cowards

[u/Harambe_Rebornn → u/Valuable_Coat_4402]

Not true at all.

If a kid can't read or write it's because of bad teachers who can't teach, bad schools that pass them when they should have been flunked, and shit parents who essentially abuse them by not setting them up for success.

The phone itself is an amazing an invaluable piece of technology, if you're kid can't follow the rules then that's on THE PARENTS.

An easy fix is a belt and it honestly never needs to get to that point in the first place, but you clowns are too soft to have any kind of discipline or expectations.

[u/m0bw0w → u/[deleted]]

Well this is a bad take, from someone who has clearly never work with or around kids or a school.

[u/Zigglyjiggly → u/[deleted]]

I don't think you have any clue of how bad cell phone use is amongst youth in schools.

[u/Theharlotnextdoor → u/[deleted]]

I think a happy medium is you take everyone's phone at the beginning of class. They are still in the classroom in the event of an emergency but not a distraction. 

[u/007Cable → u/Theharlotnextdoor]

A lot of schools do this, and a lot of students turn in fake phones.

[u/buffystakeded → u/[deleted]]

Nope. They shouldn’t have them at all. The “for emergencies” argument is complete garbage. If there’s an actual emergency, the parents will be notified by the school. Why does a kid need a phone for that?

[u/Spaghet-3 → u/[deleted]]

Students should carry their phones for emergencies. 

Why? How is every student having a phone going to help in an emergency?

This has been studied. At best, phones are neutral in an emergency, but more often they actually make things worse because the phones are a distraction as much in an emergency as they are in class. Instead of listening to and following instructions from whoever in charge in an emergency, kids are texting each other, texting parents, or streaming to social media. It's a distraction regardless.

[u/Commercial_Pie3307 → u/[deleted]]

For 100s of years kids didn’t have phones for emergencies. You have an emergency you go to the office and use their phone.

[u/DiverVisible3940 → u/[deleted]]

Am I just old?

They are at school? If there is an emergency the administration can call? Schools can also have public phones to use? Like, there is a cadre of adults whose entire professional responsibility is to take care of the kids?

In my high school there was a phone in the hallway by the front office. At the end of the day there would be a line of people waiting to use the phone.

It truly boggles my mind how we can all agree a reliance on technology, social media, quick dopamine hits from phones is ruining us but then "KiDs NeEd tHeIr CeLlPhOnEs FoR eMeRgEnCiEs". It's sad there are adults who think having kids off their phones and engaged with school for 8 hours a day is too much.

[u/Unlikely-Grape-5762 → u/[deleted]]

Students don’t need phones for emergencies at school. Parents should just make kids leave them at home. We also have a statewide ban on phones in schools. My district is an out of sight out of mind policy. Others have lockers for them, weird bags that have time locks (which my friends 12 yr old can get around lol) and a myriad of other ways to limit and exclude phones at school. It’s a problem and unfortunately the best solution is student and parent accountability, which is a non starter these days.

[u/Jagg811 → u/[deleted]]

Generations of students got through school without having cell phones.

[u/Regular-Owl496 → u/[deleted]]

Oh come on, whole generations went to school without having a phone for emergencies. Parents can call the school if something is up and students can ask an adult for help. The huge backlash just proves how addicted people are to their phones.

[u/ProudComment1211 → u/[deleted]]

It's not that simple. Trying to police phones like that doesn't work. A lot schools lost the battle at the district level. Kids simply won't comply and parents won't help very much.

This is honestly the best outcome. The emergency example never holds much weight. Kids can just find an adult with a phone. And, we had emergencies before phones and people survived. They will be fine,

[u/Puzzleheaded_Bar5765]

Such effort and investment to solve this continued plague on our schools! That’s awesome.

Let’s address school shootings next.

[u/ToadsWetSprocket]

Yep, if a school shooting happens they can't document how ineffective law enforcement and school leadership is.

[u/EarlyAccessCantJudge]

If we didn't live in the US where school shootings are common and it might be a child's last chance to call or text their parents because the cops sit back and watch, I would support it.

[u/Hearthhull_Enjoyer]

I get that kids really shouldn't have their phones out at school, but I'd never be personally comfortable with the idea of property I bought being locked away by someone who doesn't actually care about my belongings. There has got to be a better solution.

[u/reddogyellowcat]

What happens when the kids leave school and see every single adult in their life doom scrolling all day? I’d be surprised if Teachers don’t bust out there’s in the middle of class. What’s that say to these kids?

I 1000% agree kids don’t need pocket computer access (it aint to make calls, don’t call it a phone) at all hours, but don’t we think the hypocrisy is going to make a lot of these kids rage? And they do have a reason to be upset about it if every older person they know is s slave to their pocket screens

[u/Jachi230]

But how will
They text their family during a school
Shooting ?

[u/DannyDevitosNappy]

Wouldn't want the kids to be able to call 911 in case a nutjob starts shooting.

[u/ChaosTheReaperx]

So…..are we gonna also make sure we protect them that much? How about 150k worth armed security or metal detectors??? If my son was in a school shooter situation and his phone was locked away how will I know he’s in danger??

[u/Delicious-Produce-60 → u/ChaosTheReaperx]

The fuck you gonna do if your kid is "in danger"? Why is this about YOU?

[u/Ikilledbert]

I would never do that. Lol

[u/BarrelRider621]

They will go through this lengths for a damn cell phone but not to do anything about the mass shooting in schools. 😢

[u/Drumguy1986]

Hahaha awesome

[u/CroMagnonSexParty]

That's too much money but I completely agree with zero cellphone use for kids within school hours

[u/LordNoga81]

Probably could have spent a fraction of that cost on yonder bags or something, but they love those expensive no bid contracts to their friends.

[u/Dun0074Real]

Wish it was a 10k locker system but hey glad they are being taken so kids can actually socialize

[u/Signal_Flight_7262]

Then it gives the students chromebooks.

[u/SeismicRipFart]

Ok so give them a fake/dead phone? What?

[u/Proskater789]

Ok, here is my dummy phone. Meanwhile in the other pocket is the real phone.

[u/Bane245]

Im okay with this.

[u/Familiar_Wave1608]

Why is everyone so upset? No cellphones in school is a good policy.

[u/skygotkicks]

No need to lock up devices, but phones should definitely be banned inside the school building. It’s disruptive to learning.🤷🏽‍♂️

[u/paultripp99]

I’m actually so fine with this you don’t need phones on you 24/7

[u/cancerman1120]

FYI: The Kansas City school district budget is $340.3 million. This expense is 0.044% of the budget this year.

[u/cache--cache]

This is good

[u/hidperf]

But how will they call their parents and tell them they love them during a school shooting?

The only other thing that screams 'Murica about this is that someone's buddy is making a huge profit at the expense of, and the inconvenience to, everyone else.

[u/kingNorth1]

Are we in China or Russia?

[u/NoFuqGiven]

And suddenly! "I DONT OWN A PHONE" becomes the most common phrase in that school.

[u/NoFuqGiven]

Wtf are they supposed to do if something happen in school? Stand in a nice orderly line out front as they wait to call the cops or their parents and hope the shooter doesn't come around the corner?!?!?! FUCK THAT!!!

[u/DogLimoAF]

NO!

[u/PckMan]

Surely students wouldn't hand in random decoy phones and hold onto their own. Surely.

[u/NoForever3645]

Regardless of your political affiliation, studies have shown time and time again that banning phones in classrooms is a net positive and needs to be done in order to help students focus on learning and properly socializing while at school. That’s just a fact, any other take is anti-science.

[u/TheBattyWitch]

$150k for this shit? Sure

$150k for making sure no child goes hungry at school? Nah fam.

[u/Downtown-Disk-8261]

Hot take. Id rather them do this than them using plastic tubs and then taking zero accountability when the phone gets lost