Following the extended winter break, the county-wide electronic ban was carried out on Jan 9. 

The Chesterfield County School Board approved the ban on Dec. 10 at their monthly meeting. The focus of the ban is to improve students focus, lessen classroom distractions, and strengthen social interactions. 

Junior Nia Evans, shares her insights on the process of the banning. 

“I think it will be challenging and a big problem but after a while it will die down,” said Evans.

As of Jan. 9, all phones are to be powered off and kept inside a student’s backpack from the first bell to the last bell. This includes all devices that connect to Wi-Fi or bluetooth. 

According to the Chesterfield County Public Schools website, “Students will not be able to use a cellphone or have a cellphone in sight at any time during the instructional day. This includes lunch, times between classes, when students are in hallways, etc.” 

The process of a phone being taken begins with putting it in a paper bag and sending the students phone and information to administration. The confiscated phones are then returned during the fourth period until Jan. 22. After Jan. 22, a confiscated phone will need to be picked up by a parent or guardian during school hours. 

This transition has not been easy for fellow students that have become accustomed to always having access to their devices. Harlyieh Corbitt, a freshman at Clover Hill, shared the biggest struggle she is dealing with following the ban.

“Keeping it in my bookbag all day is the hardest part because it’s usually in my pocket or on me at all times,” said Corbitt.

As students adapt, teachers have expressed their hopes for their students to become more engaged as a result of the ban.

“I think it would be great if students were less distracted and could focus more on their school work,” said a teacher at Clover Hill.

With the first official day of the ban, a total of around 40 phones or other Wi-Fi connected devices were confiscated. This total is significantly lower than the original estimate that would be taken. With this, many students and staff members have expressed their concerns about the collected phone total increasing once the students stop seeing the phone ban as a change of pace and less serious as the months go on.

“I think people are going to end up getting sick of it and go against it at some point,” said Corbitt.

Only time will tell whether this shift will be a lasting change, or if the challenges of maintaining it will lead to a return to old habits.