The Cell Phone Pouch Pilot Program is almost entirely funded by the Alnoba Lewis Family Foundation and the Roberts Rothe Fund for Perpetual Giving and addresses a critical wellness need for middle school students. Accessible funding allowed Park City schools to be at the forefront of rolling out a policy like this for cell phones, other Utah schools are beginning to do the same.
Since TMJH launched the Cell Phone Pouch Pilot Program, the changes around school have been big. Less cyberbullying, fewer conflicts, and much more focus in class are a few notable takeaways. Compared to this time last year, discipline issues are down 75%, meaning teachers are spending less time on phone-related problems and more time teaching. Specifically, there were 21 suspensions at TMJH from the beginning of the 2023 school year through now; this year, there have been five. And, for the same time period, last year counselors managed one to two student conflict/resolutions every week; this year there have been three total.
“I originally was very annoyed by the Yondr pouches and slowly they have started to grow on me because I feel like they have allowed for more conversations and connections,” one TMJH student shared. “Before Yondr pouches a lot of people, including me, sat on their phones during lunch and at the end of classes rather than talking to other people. The pouches have forced me to have so many more conversations with great people I never would have talked to if I had been able to fill the silence with my phone. I feel like it isn't perfect, but having to be more social even in situations where I feel shy and wish I could fill the silence with my phone has helped me so much and I feel has helped my social skills and confidence.”
