SPOKANE, Wash. – Spokane Public Schools Superintendent Adam Swinyard reported that banning phones in classrooms has been a success.
Swinyard shared, “We’ve heard positive feedback really across almost every section of our community.”
The district noted a substantial increase in student engagement. Participation in clubs, sports, and other activities rose from 29% to more than 65% this school year.
Swinyard emphasized that students are experiencing better connections: “They know each other better. They know more kids than they did all of last year. They know their teachers better than they did last year.”
This new approach is fostering new relationships. Swinyard stated, “When that when that exists, we’re stronger together. We’re stronger in supporting each other. We’re stronger in encouraging each other. We’re stronger in problem solving together. We’re stronger in collaborating with each other.”
The district refers to this initiative as IRL, or In Real Life, focusing on healthy communication rather than consequences.
“There’s a time to have your phone out and there’s a time to to put it away. And that’s the conversation that teachers are having with kids. And we’re really encouraging families to have those same conversations,” Swinyard said.
However, there are consequences for students who do not adhere to the IRL guidelines.
Swinyard added, “And that’s why we we have school discipline is to help kids that are struggling to meet the expectation on a regular basis to grow and learn.”
