Riverton High School (RHS) is the latest to join a growing trend of banning cellphones in classrooms, a shift that has sparked both adjustment and reflection, Wyo File reports.
While the initial rollout drew some grumbling from students like 17-year-old junior Alexis Taylor, the benefits have become apparent. Taylor admits she initially struggled with the impulse to check her phone during class but now finds it easier to engage in lessons and spend downtime connecting with friends face-to-face.
“Now that we’re further into the year, [the ban] makes so much more sense,” Taylor said.
She noted the diminishing need to constantly check her device.
Teachers at RHS are overwhelmingly supportive. Art teacher Maci Evans, who already enforced a no-phone policy in her classroom, said the school’s new approach has made her job easier.
“I don’t even have to ask anymore… In class, they kind of just do it,” Evans said.
Principal Thomas Jassman, a proponent of phone-free classrooms, implemented a stricter policy this year. Students must either place their phones in designated caddies or keep them in their backpacks, out of sight. If they violate the rule, escalating consequences follow, from warnings to phone confiscation and eventual parental intervention.
“I know that a lot of our students are starting to recognize, ‘Wow, I kind of get stuff done when I don’t have my cellphone with me all the time,” Jassman said.
RHS’s policy reflects a broader trend across the US, as nearly 20 states have passed or recommended policies limiting cellphone use in schools. Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon and State Superintendent Megan Degenfelder recently urged schools to develop clear guidelines.
According to a 2024 Pew Research Center report, 72% of high school teachers cite cellphone distractions as a major issue. RHS’s new policy aims to counteract such distractions while reducing incidents of cyberbullying and inappropriate behavior.
While some students initially resisted the policy, others quickly adapted. However, the shift also required communication with parents. Principal Jassman noted that during emergencies, parents are encouraged to contact the school rather than texting students directly to avoid classroom disruptions.
Riverton is not alone in adopting such measures. Bighorn School District 2 prohibits phones in classrooms, and Teton County School District uses a “pocket to pocket” system, where students place their phones in hanging sleeves that double as attendance markers.
Jassman and other staff members report that the ban has reduced distractions and eased classroom management. Social studies teacher Sam Howerton appreciates the improved focus, though she acknowledges that some students still try to bypass the rules.
“There’s more positives to collecting phones or not allowing kids to have them during class time than not,” Howerton said.
