Locking up the future

By Trevaughn Johnston

A retired professional soccer player, Graham Dugoni, invented Yondr pouches for the sole purpose of stopping kids from using their phone, and to limit a vital distraction that impacts people’s lives. It started in San Francisco, California in 2014, when he got the idea from a Treasure Island music festival, where he witnessed an intoxicated event where people were recording. It made Mr. Dugoni feel negatively about cell phones and he knew a change needed to be made.

According to the article, “Ponder Yondr: A Student's Perspective”

a student that goes to “New Haven Academy” feels that Yondr pouches help students avoid being anxious and shy during school and helps them talk to other people in school. The student states that phones have gotten in the way of education, and in social skills and development. “Phones put a barrier on social interactions that generations before us did not experience, and they also create a constant connection between people even in distance. 

While some students feel that the Yondr pouches take away entertainment, some think it increases social interaction with others. In contrast, some people think Yondr pouches limit access to the outside world, especially if there’s a school emergency. Also, Yondr pouches are very expensive to obtain for a whole school, some schools spend thousands of dollars rather than spending it on other educational programs. According to “The Hidden Cost of Yondr Pouches,” it states that Yondr pouches are hard to afford. It costs a lot of money because even though they pay for the whole school’s pouches, kids intend to lose it or even break it and it costs the district tons of money to get it back.

Keimy Jackobs, a sophomore here in Hillcrest, thinks it’s easier to lose your phone because it’s in a pouch that looks the same as everyone else’s and it’s harder to carry on to. Another reason why he is against Yondr pouches is because of medical reasons, emergencies on and off your phone. You don’t know what’s going on outside the school building when it’s locked up all day. 

Geometry teacher, Mr. Brown thinks Yondr pouches prevent students from using their phones in class and prevents cheating. He thinks tests are very important to see what kind of level you're at, if you’re distracted on the phone all the time, it can affect how much he knows you as a student. 

The security guards here at Hillcrest believe that Yondr pouches are important because you can't sneak in your phone and also prevents you from using it. Some of the deans in the school think that Yondr pouches will help students graduate and at a better level, people are able to communicate with each other in class, instead of texting and being distracted.

Whether we like it or not, Yondr pouches are here to stay. So make sure you bring your pouches in every day and make sure your phones are off, locked away, and your pouches in your bag.