Yondr Pouches

What does the Bishop O'Connell Community think about the Yondr Pouches? 

Carissa Duffey ('28)

Bishop O’Connell High School recently implemented a new policy: Yondr Pouches, but what is their purpose—and, more importantly, are they necessary? Many teachers and school administrators felt that students were spending the majority of their time at school using their phones and that this was detrimental to a productive environment. “The phones were a serious problem" said Mrs. Jennifer Ingersoll, a Bishop O'Connell math teacher, “Something had to be done.” From the teacher's perspective, adopting these devices seemed simple; they aim to increase student’s focus, their academic performance, and boost communication with one another. 

The beneficial effects of the Yondr pouches are clear to many educators across the country. In a survey conducted by Yondr (outlined in the one-pager on their website), the repercussions of the new technology, adopted in over 900 schools, is documented. It noted that 83% of students were more engaged in class, 65% saw an increase in grades, and 74% of schools recorded that student behavior had improved. 

Teachers at O’Connell have also noticed a change. Instructors throughout the four grades were asked about their opinions on the new policy, and the majority believed the Yondr pouches had an overall positive effect on the school environment. All of the teachers surveyed stated that they noticed an uptick in student engagement and focus, particularly when working. Another benefit, noted by many teachers, was greater ease in disciplining students with the help of Student Life. A number of teachers stated that the application of finite boundaries in the classroom created healthier relationships between students and teachers and provided greater communication. Overall, the faculty at Bishop O’Connell believes that the phone restrictions created by the Yondr pouches are advantageous for students and conducive to a productive learning environment.

A majority of students, however, are not as convinced. In a survey of over 350 O’Connell students, 91% did not feel that the Yondr pouches were beneficial to their school experience as a whole, and 70% of students in grades ten, eleven, and twelve responded that they did not notice an increase in focus from prior years. Rather than simply being inconveniences, many students expressed worry regarding the possible detrimental effects of the pouches. A frequent cause for concern was safety in emergency situations, in which quick communication is necessary. One student writes, “I don’t see a purpose in them, and, if anything, they make me stressed and give me anxiety because if I was in an emergency, I would not have my phone to contact anybody.” Furthermore, many students were upset about the implementation of the pouches, as it furthers a sense of division, rather than community, between themselves and their teachers. Noted another student, “What I do not agree with is the restrictiveness and lack of trust the Yondr Pouch implies.” 

Whether or not the positives outweigh the negatives regarding the Yondr Pouches, there is an argument to be made on both sides. Statistics on changes in school environments after the addition of these devices show that the absence of technology fosters an overall positive effect on an academic climate. The majority of students, however, are concerned about the possible problems concerning the pouches themselves. In the future, perhaps common ground between these two opposing views will be found: a convenient solution which keeps phones out of student’s hands during school hours, but that also provides them with the reassurance that their concerns will be taken care of in an emergency. Administrators will have to keep in mind the needs of students, while the latter must keep in mind the necessity for their focus and active participation in the classroom. One teacher articulated this idea by saying, “I am not sure if Yondr Pouches are the way forward, but no phones are the way forward.”

Sources

Graphs with Data Collected from a Schoolwide Survey