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New Bedford High and all three of the city’s middle schools will be “phone free” starting in the fall, the district announced in an email to parents on Thursday.
A letter from Superintendent Andrew O’Leary said that the district will use Yondr pouches, the rubber-like bags that lock students’ phones away, to prevent phone use during the school day for almost 6,000 middle and high schoolers.
“Students will maintain possession of their Yondr pouches and phones throughout the school day and will not be able to use their phones until their pouches are opened at the end of the school day,” O’Leary said.
“In an effort to best serve your child, we appreciate your full support in adoption of the Yondr program at our schools,” O’Leary concluded in his letter.
The announcement hit parents’ inboxes just a few hours before Thursday evening’s commencement ceremony, where graduating seniors would pose for selfies and celebrate their achievements with phone and video calls to family and friends. These outgoing students will be the last in New Bedford to have ready access to cell phones during the school day — representing a changing tide with mixed public reaction.
Around the world, more than 60 countries have implemented total or partial bans on smartphones in the classroom, including South Korea, Finland, the United Kingdom, and Brazil, according to the World Education blog. Some research suggests that cell phone and social media use can undermine academic outcomes, but other studies say that more evidence is needed.
A majority of U.S. states are also now banning or regulating cell phones in schools, owing to swift legislative action since 2023, according to reporting from PBS.
In Massachusetts, Gov. Maura Healey told reporters this May, “I think we need to rein in the use of cellphones during the school day.” And while some legislators agreed with Healey’s stance, there has been no statewide action yet in the commonwealth. Individual school districts in Massachusetts — including Holyoke, Salem, and now New Bedford — are among those who have implemented phone bans.
In New Bedford, the incoming student council president, Mark Dressel, said, “The impending phone ban using Yondr pouches definitely has its pros and cons.” Dressel continued, “It’s a good thing that the district is attempting to address the issue of social media … but an outright ban is not the way to go.”
Last year, the district scaled back plans for a high school phone ban after students opposed its plan, The Light reported then. Instead, each middle school pursued a trial this past year, such as stricter enforcement of existing policies or “phone lockers” in the classroom — cubbies where students deposit their devices.
Elliott Talley, then student council president, told The Light last year that New Bedford’s students were disproportionately likely to support their families with a job or take care of their siblings — things they would need access to their phone to do.
Just hours before he walked the graduation stage Thursday, Talley reiterated those points: “New Bedford is a district where a lot of our students are taking care of their siblings or even their own children. They need to be in contact with their families,” Talley said. “Or they’re working to take care of their families.”
Still, Talley said his position has “softened” because he’s become aware of just how many students are using their phones during the school day.
Superintendent O’Leary said the district will be open to potential “carve outs” after considering student feedback, including for those who may need their phone for medically necessary reasons.
O’Leary said that parents also provided some feedback, which building-level administrators heard at back-to-school nights. He said that some parents have concerns about safety, but O’Leary said that parents can still access their children by calling the school’s main office.
None of the involved principals or the local teachers union immediately responded to a request for comment on Thursday.
Families can attend an information presentation next Wednesday, June 18, in Keith Middle School’s community room (north side of the building) to learn more about the new cell phone policy.
Email Colin Hogan at chogan@newbedfordlight.org
Imagine if the parents banned them for their children instead of forcing the schools to do the parenting? What a wonderful world it would be.
Agree!
America has become a far left liberal socialist ghetto, that’s not an opinion, it’s a fact that was revealed several times last year with certain groups based on age, and race miss
Not seeing the connection with your statement and cell phones?
This should include staff!
In the late 70’s students were working to support their families. There were no cell phones back then. If you’re at school or work you should be learning or working, not gabbing on a phone. Phone calls to work place, chain of command. There is too much of students thinking they are privileged. We worked for our cars and to pay insurance it wasn’t given to us. They shouldn’t be allowed at all, staff included.
Same goes for access to laptops, should only be academics and even that it should be pen/pencil and paper. No worries of batteries dying and information lost!