H-B’s recent implementation of Yondr phone pouches this year has been somewhat controversial. Many have drawn criticism towards the new policy, questioning their level of effectiveness, and raising concerns about not being able to contact parents or access phones for academic purposes. While these are all valid points of discussion that should be taken into consideration, the new policy has brought with it a variety of positive results as well.
It is admittedly still a transition period, but it’s important to remember the intention behind these pouches. Since learning material has largely become digital, it is beneficial for students to eliminate the additional screens that they check daily anyways. Not everyone uses their phones for the same purpose. But considering that today’s teenagers are constantly inundated with a variety of messages and flashy images every day due to their devices, it’s more important than ever that they have a learning environment free of distractions.
Additionally, one of the main concerns surrounding today’s generation is that their way of socializing always involves a device. Teens have resorted to using their phones to access the vast internet in favor of physical interaction and communication. Social media itself opens up a whole can of worms that has been shown to affect adolescents’ attention spans and self-esteem. Within a learning environment, it especially matters that students feel confident and attentive, and these pouches efficiently serve that purpose.
