September 26, 2024 • 32 mins
Today, we sit down with Matt Graham and Chris Vail to unpack Chesapeake Public Schools' "Away for the Day" cell phone policy, aligned with Governor Youngkin's Executive Order 33. You'll hear firsthand accounts from Principal Jeff Johnson, teacher Corey Perillo, and senior Katelynn Diehl from Great Bridge High School. They share their unique experiences, challenges faced, and the surprisingly positive outcomes of this policy. You'll also hear some practical tips and strategies for balancing screen time. Don't miss this discussion on the broader implications of this policy and how it contributes to a more meaningful, secure, and engaged educational experience for everyone involved.
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Episode Transcript
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Matt Graham (00:00):
Welcome to Amplify the Chesapeake Public Schools
podcast.
Chris Vail (00:13):
Chesapeake Public Schools is located in the
Hampton Roads region ofsoutheastern Virginia.
We proudly serve over 40,000students in 45 schools and three
centers.
Join us as we share the storiesbehind our story by celebrating
the people and programs thatmake us one of the premier
school districts in Virginia.
All right, Amplified listeners,we're back for another exciting
(00:36):
episode.
Matt Graham (00:37):
That's right, this is Matt Graham and I'm here with
Chris Vail, and school is infull swing.
Chris Vail (00:43):
Hey, we are back firing on all cylinders right
now, getting these kids in theclassroom and getting after it
right.
How's it been for you and yourfamily?
It's been a great start to theschool year, just getting back
into that routine.
Both my boys like a routine.
Do better when they're on aroutine.
Yeah, so it's been a good start.
How about?
Matt Graham (01:00):
yourself.
Ah, the same.
I think this year this is wifeand I.
We finally have like the plancorrect for what can help our
kids get out of the house and agood note every day.
So I think we're going in theright direction there.
Chris Vail (01:16):
Talking about a plan right.
This school year new policy forour high school is dealing with
cell phone.
Matt Graham (01:22):
Now.
Last year, chesapeake PublicSchools did implement a new cell
phone policy.
Chris Vail (01:27):
So last year at the high school level it was off
during the day other than thecafeteria and that was up to
each principal in their schoolon whether students could use
their cell phone or why theywere at lunch.
But going into this year, thebig change is off and away for
the day Right, and that's alsoin accordance with Governor
(01:48):
Youngkin's Executive Order 33.
Matt Graham (01:50):
And that's what this episode's all about.
We were able to speak with afew people from Great Bridge
High School the principal, ateacher, even a student about
how that away for the day looksin their building.
Chris Vail (02:03):
And I think it's important getting those three
different perspectives, lookingthrough three different lenses
on whether it's been successful,what have been the challenges,
what have been the positivesmoving forward Right, and we
were planning these episodes outfor the school year.
Matt Graham (02:16):
This was one that we definitely wanted to touch
base on.
We even had a teacher reach outto us through the Ask Us
Anything show, where, if youvisit cpschoolscom forward slash
amplified you can connect withus.
So shout out to Dori Suttmillerbecause she was like, hey,
let's talk about the cell phonepolicy.
Well, guess what?
That's what we're doing.
And also, at the same time thisis crazy because it is a hot
(02:40):
topic in our state the FirstLady of Virginia and Jonathan
Haidt, who is the author of theAnxious Generation, just
recently hosted a fireside chaton this exact topic.
And here is Jonathan Haidt whodiscusses one of the parental
concerns during emergencysituations with being cell phone
free for the day.
Jonathan Haidt (03:01):
Now, I'm glad you asked that because this is
the most common objection and Icompletely understand it.
As I said, my kids go to NewYork City public schools and if
there was a shooting incident orsomething like that, I would
want to know that they're okay.
I would want to talk to them,I'd want to hear them.
But we have to do what is bestfor the kids, not what's best
(03:23):
for our feelings in the moment.
And the school security expertsall say the same thing.
When there's an emergency, thelast thing you want is every kid
pulling out their phone andsaying bye, mom, I love you.
What you want is the kids to dowhat they drilled to do.
There are reasons why we havesecurity protocols in place, and
(03:45):
so the security experts saykeep quiet, Follow directions.
The teacher has a phone.
The teachers will always havephones.
So it's a natural parentalresponse to want to call
instantly, in part because we'vebeen connected to our kids from
the moment we cut the umbilicalcord.
We stay connected to them andwe have to learn to let go and
trust that in the school theycare about the kids and they're
(04:08):
doing what's best for the kids.
So it's hard for us, but wehave to do what's best for the
kids.
Matt Graham (04:14):
So, after listening to that as a parent, well, that
was one of the big takeawaysthat I got was just that
statement there, because that,honestly, was my concern what do
we do in emergency situations?
I really liked that statementthere because that, honestly,
was my concern what do we do inemergency situations?
I really like that response andit honestly made me feel a
little bit better.
Chris Vail (04:29):
Yeah, and I think us as parents, especially where
you have kids that are from themiddle school level up, we're
used to that immediateconnection with your kid your
true, whether you're using life360 tracking your child yeah,
where they're supposed to be, orthat ability to text them to
make sure they're all right,wish them a good day.
Um, when you and I grew up, wedidn't have that and we were
(04:49):
just fine, and parents, if theyneeded to get in touch with
their child at school, they justcall the main office.
Yeah, he had a lot of goodpoints that if you haven't seen
it, it's going to be.
It's worth watching.
It's on the Virginia departmentof ed's YouTube channel.
It's definitely worth a watch,or his book is worth a read.
Matt Graham (05:07):
Right, and we're not getting paid for that plug.
They're not paying us to say it, but he definitely gets a
couple of shout outs in thisepisode because it is so
relevant in this discussion.
Chris Vail (05:17):
This topic is getting a lot of interest from
the national level andespecially at our state level,
with the route our governor istaking and getting ahead.
But you're seeing a lot ofbuy-in and a lot of different
perspectives on what's the bestway to implement something like
this.
Matt Graham (05:32):
I really enjoyed this conversation that we had
with everyone today.
So, listeners, we hope youenjoy this episode.
Sit back and relax as we jumpinto this discussion.
Joining us today we have theprincipal of Great Bridge High
School, mr Jeff Johnson, and oneof the teachers, mrs Corey
Pirello, to talk about the cellphone policy and how it's going
(05:55):
on at Great Bridge High School.
So, first off, welcome to thepodcast and before we dive into
this topic, can you both take amoment to share a little bit
about yourself so that ourlisteners get to know you a
little bit better?
Jeff Johnson (06:10):
Sure, sure, I'd love to.
First of all, I'd like to saythanks for inviting me.
This is my first podcast, sowe'll see how it goes.
This is my 30th year withChesapeake Public Schools, my
21st as an administrator, so I'mexcited about that experience
and still been able to do that.
I was on the vast board ofdirectors for six years, so I
had the opportunity there tomeet with other principals
(06:30):
throughout the state, talk aboutthings just like what we're
going to talk about today, andget their perspectives.
And then we also had thesuperintendent for public
instruction.
He would come out and meet withus from time to time so we
could share concerns and thingswith him.
So I have a varied set ofexperiences that I think have
helped me be successful at myjob at Great Bridge High School.
Core Perillo (06:48):
Thanks guys.
I am a graduate of Hickory HighSchool, so I'm a Chesapeake
product myself 1998.
I won't go back there, so I'malso a Great Bridge Wildcat.
If you guys know the GreatBridge Hickory went back and
taught at Great Bridge HighSchool in 2005,.
Was there for a few years, thenhad a bunch of children who are
now also Chesapeake studentsthere at Hickory Schools and I
(07:11):
found my way back, always comingback to Great Bridge.
So I've been there for the lastfour years and now I'm teaching
family and consumer science.
Chris Vail (07:18):
Great Well, I think we're ready to dive right into
this.
Jeff Johnson (07:22):
Dive right in.
Chris Vail (07:22):
All right.
So, mr Johnson, what does a wayfor the day look like in your
building?
Jeff Johnson (07:29):
So it's the same in my building as it is in any
building in Chesapeake PublicSchools, right?
So we have our students puttheir phones away before they
walk through the door in themorning essentially.
And they don't have access tothose phones again until after
they leave school in theafternoon.
Matt Graham (07:44):
Okay.
So where do they put them awaywhen you ask them to do that In
their backpacks?
Jeff Johnson (07:48):
Okay, and you know we wanted to make sure and I
think that's a good policy.
To be honest with you and whenyou're talking about, I know
parents had some concerns aboutstudents having access to their
phones in case there was anemergency and those kind of
things.
But their phones are in theirbackpacks so they have access to
them if they need them incertain circumstances, but for
the biggest part, we don't wantto see those phones for the
(08:08):
entire day.
Chris Vail (08:09):
Okay, so when you kicked off the school year
because it's different than lastschool year, right At the high
school level your school was one.
I think they could use it inthe cafeteria, am I correct?
Jeff Johnson (08:19):
That's correct.
Chris Vail (08:20):
So how did you get this information in the parents'
hands and in the students'hands to kick off that first day
of school on September 3rd?
Jeff Johnson (08:28):
So a shout out to the communications department
because I know you guys reallyput it out there to the families
over the summer, which wereally appreciated.
That helped us tremendously.
And then in my welcome backletter to students and families
I mentioned it in there.
And then once school started,you know, we met with each grade
level individually the secondor third day of school and we
really went through the policywith those guys.
(08:48):
So the word was out Right.
So that was kind of theirwarning at that point and what
was the first week with that,with the new change.
You know the first couple ofdays was a challenge.
We had a few students whodidn't understand what the
expectation was, but we wereable to clarify that.
But since then it's gotten muchbetter, so we haven't had a
(09:08):
major problem with it.
Chris Vail (09:09):
All right, mr Perillo, how about you from that
teacher perspective?
Last year it was a little bitdifferently, and I'm sure there
were some down times too, wherestudents were using it.
What's your perspective on thisfrom a teacher, kicking off the
year with these new rules?
Core Perillo (09:23):
It's really nice to take it out of the teacher's
hands and not make it theirresponsibility, that it's a
school-wide and it's acommunity-wide thing that we're
all getting on board for this.
Lots of research going into itand from my part, I teach
wellness, so mental wellness isreally one part of this whole
key thing about this phone.
That is sort of diving downinto these kids and trying to
(09:45):
get them out of being on thosephones all the time and trying
to really talk to one another.
Matt Graham (09:50):
Right and to go along with that you were
teaching how many?
Core Perillo (09:54):
years you said A long time.
No, don't worry, I'm reallyyoung, so how?
Matt Graham (10:00):
has the presence of cell phones maybe affected your
classroom environment ordynamics the past few years?
Core Perillo (10:06):
Yeah, I mean, you can tell their personalities and
it's kind of a time suck and itmakes them a little unmotivated
.
If they can be like I can do mywork later and they're just
something that they want to do,there's no excuses now.
It's not an option to do that.
Let's get the work done, let'sgrind it out and then you can
relax.
I've got lots of differentgames that I've created to play
(10:29):
with them, to kind of just bringthem back to being kids,
because even high schoolersthey're kids.
So trying to just promote that.
Being in a school where Ididn't have cell phones, I don't
even remember what it's like,honestly, to not have a cell
phone in the classroom.
It's just kind of there and Iunderstand I do.
Jeff Johnson (10:47):
I'm that old.
Core Perillo (10:50):
But in the last few years it's kind of just
overtaken our world and oureducation and it's time to get
back to the important part ofeducation.
Chris Vail (10:58):
Well, I want to dig in a little bit into that
teacher workroom and thoseconversations that are going on
at Great Bridge High Schoolabout the cell phone policy.
You just talked about the ideaof having games in your
classroom during that downtime.
Is that something that theteachers you guys are
collaborating about?
You know how to fill that needwhen, before it could be, hey,
just pull out your phone, youcan listen to music while you're
(11:19):
doing your work.
How are you guys talking aboutthis?
Core Perillo (11:22):
Absolutely.
I have an amazing departmentand we really work together at
that and share all of our things.
We have a co-curricular clubthat we have really ignited this
year where we have members whoare trying to plan you know
events and community activities,even simple things that just
you know painting rocks to justkind of spread a little bit of
color in our senior court.
They weren't doing that beforebecause they were more
(11:45):
interested in being on a deviceinstead of actually being
involved in their community.
Matt Graham (11:51):
I've heard one of the biggest changes is the
lunchroom environment.
So you were saying that thelunch last year they could have
it out in lunch, but with thisnew policy this year that's not
the case across our schools,right?
So what's the major change thatyou've maybe seen with that?
Jeff Johnson (12:06):
So I'm glad you brought that point up.
So the back door of my officeopens up to the lunchroom.
So when the bell rings forfirst lunch I open that door
just so I can just kind of bethere, walk out, kind of see
what's going on.
I would have that door openduring meetings last year
because the noise level was solow I didn't have to worry about
it.
But now what we're hearing,with these kids not having their
phones out, is they're havingconversations with each other.
(12:28):
So the noise level is elevated.
But it's a great, you know,it's a great conversation
they're having with theirfriends and they're creating
friendships.
It's just a bonus for all of usreally.
Chris Vail (12:37):
So you're welcoming that noise level in the
cafeteria, Mr Johnson.
Jeff Johnson (12:40):
Absolutely, absolutely.
Core Perillo (12:42):
Yeah, I think a loud class is a positive class
for mostly.
I mean I like my kids talk whenit's too quiet, it's like it's
like what's going on here, likeyou want them to be engaged and
when they have their phones it'svery easy to be not engaged.
You're meeting new people thatmaybe you wouldn't have even you
would have sat next to a kidand not even known their name
and now you know you're kind offorced to stare at the person
(13:05):
across from you and have aconversation and I just think
that's huge yeah.
Chris Vail (13:16):
Well, it hasn't been difficult in the cafeteria,
though, making that transitionfrom last year.
Hey, I can throw on my ear podsor headphones, I can watch a
reel, but now I can't have itout.
How's that transition gone?
Jeff Johnson (13:24):
We haven't really seen any kind of escalation and
issues that we had to deal with.
Actually, it's been a littlebit better.
Wow, that's good Because theyare communicating and they are
creating these relationships.
So it's been great.
We've had some incidents wherestudents have wanted to get on
their cell phone to check theirtext messages or things like
that Snapchat, I'm sure, butthey're going to the restroom.
So we're catching them becausewe're monitoring our restrooms
(13:46):
and they're like, oh my gosh, assoon as you walk in, I'll see
the kid in the corner of therestroom with the phone.
They're like oh, I'm sorry, mrJohnson, and I'm like, okay,
well, come on, follow me.
You know, everybody makes amistake.
We'll just make sure we getthis right.
So we've liked it, we'vewelcomed it.
It's been a great change in ourcafeteria and we've seen very
few issues as a result of takingthose funds away.
Core Perillo (14:03):
And I think teachers do a great job too.
We have the library.
That's a much quieter spot.
Student does not like to be ina loud place, so I think we have
places where kids can go, andeven our club is meeting at
lunch to kind of communicate.
So there's options for kids ifthey don't want to be.
I understand you don't want tobe in a loud clock, in a loud
(14:24):
lunchroom, but this way they cando that and meet with their
friends, and the kids who wantto be in a quieter spot also
have that option.
Chris Vail (14:31):
Right.
So what happens?
Let's say we have a studentthat violates your cell phone
policy, that they have it out,mr Johnson or Mrs Perlow, it's
in your classroom.
You know what's next steps.
Jeff Johnson (14:45):
So they call security and security comes down
, picks up the phone, takes youto the front desk and then we
log it in and we have a log andthen my assistant principals
have access to that so they knowwhat kid what kid has you know
had their phone confiscated andwhat number they're at.
Okay, so if it's the first one,it's warning, they pick it up
at the end of the day.
Second one, then parent has topick up, and so on and so on.
I have to tell you I'm gonnagive my, my students and my
(15:06):
teachers a shout out real quick.
My students have been amazinglyrespectful.
So any student that I havewalked up to caught them in the
bathroom or they've had theirphone out.
They were like yes, sir, no sir,I apologize, that kind of thing
.
And my teachers are holding theline.
They're doing a really good joband my word to them has always
been I don't want you to stopwhat you're doing.
Your job is to teach.
(15:26):
I don't want you to try tomanage cell phones in your
classroom.
That's our job.
So they do a really good jobabout getting on the phone and
calling security and then goright back to work and keep
doing what they're supposed tobe doing.
Core Perillo (15:36):
I've fortunately had one incident all year which
I can't even believe, I thinktrying to make it as small as a
problem.
You know it shouldn't bebreaking up the day, and the
more that we continue doing thisthis way, then the less of
those we'll have, because theyknow it's going to get taken
away from them, so they don'twant that to happen.
Chris Vail (15:53):
How about the issues with social media?
Do you think this has helped totone that down a little bit?
Jeff Johnson (15:59):
Yeah, and I'll give you an example of that.
So we had an issue with twostudents on the bus this morning
and as soon as they came intothe building and I walked into
my assistant principal's officeand I said, well, hey, how'd
this start?
And she said, well, she talkedabout me on social media.
So she was at the bus stop andshe looked it up, she saw this
girl had said something to heror said something about her on
social media.
(16:19):
So that started theconfrontation right there.
So we're not getting that inschool now.
It used to be when kids couldget on their phone at lunch.
They could look at them andthey were snapping each other
and next thing, you know, we hadthree or four kids in the
bathroom and there was some typeof argument or altercation.
Matt Graham (16:34):
Right, so discipline's gone down from the
first month of school.
Jeff Johnson (16:37):
You've noticed already.
Matt Graham (16:38):
Exactly.
Katelynn Diehl (16:39):
Wow.
Matt Graham (16:40):
Okay.
In the past we had BYOD, bringyour own device and we allowed
our students to bring in theirdevice and when the teacher
permitted it, it was okay to use.
So some people might think thatare we taking a step backwards
with technology or implementingtechnology in the classroom with
this policy?
What's your take on that, orwhat's something that you would
(17:01):
talk to our community about?
Core Perillo (17:03):
I mean, they all have a Chromebook, so they can't
argue.
You can take a picture on aChromebook, you can look on the
internet on the Chromebook, youcan listen to music on the
Chromebook, and every child atin Chesapeake public schools is
given a Chromebook, so that Idon't think it's backwards at
all.
Jeff Johnson (17:18):
Okay, no, I don't either, and I think the teachers
have box lights in their roomtoo, so they have that added
technology and that's workingout great as interactive
technology.
So, uh, no, I'm, I'm.
I agree with Ms Perillo.
I think they're right where weneed to be.
Matt Graham (17:29):
And I had to agree with you too, because when I was
in the classroom, there wastimes where we would, and it was
the time where we could be YODand bring the own device and I
had the students use certainapps and programs and and
sometimes the apps didn't evenwork well.
It was always better on thelaptop or the Chromebook or
whatever we were using at thattime.
Chris Vail (17:47):
Yeah, let's go with the parents.
Let's talk about all of us inthis room.
We're parents.
I have a high school student.
I have a middle school student.
Ms Perillo, you have four kidsthat are in school.
Mr Johnson, your daughter's asenior in high school right now
and I'm sure when this came outthey weren't happy.
I know my own son was notthrilled that the cell phone was
(18:09):
going to go away from the day,and I know we've heard from some
parents too.
What's the message you'd liketo get out to parents?
What are some things they mightnot realize?
That goes on with cell phonesin the school?
When they were allowed, why didthey need to be away for the
day?
Core Perillo (18:23):
I would encourage them to read a book.
It's called the AnxiousGeneration.
You can even and it kind of isfunny, because it's a social
media app too you can read it onInstagram and I know that's
kind of like you know, ironic,but it really just focuses on
the kids these days and whatthey, that the play has been
taken away from them, that theyare becoming adults in much
quicker places.
(18:44):
So, as a parent, I love it.
I'm also a mom that, like myeighth grader, she doesn't even
still have Snapchat, because Iknew she couldn't handle it, I
knew it wasn't good for hermental health, and that's
because I'm in the buildings andI watch these middle school and
high school teenagers.
They're struggling with whothey are and what they want to
be, and I said write me aPowerPoint presentation on the
(19:04):
good reasons for Snapchat and Iwill consider it, so you said
that to your daughter I did Isaid it, I said go ahead.
I'm all ears, I'm ready.
And she couldn't do it.
And she hasn't fought me aboutit anymore because she realizes
mentally, like she looks atwhat's going on, even when she's
with her other friends in theirSnapchat, and they start to get
, and it's just a.
(19:26):
I want them to be kids.
I want them my.
You know, my fifth graderdoesn't have a phone.
I think I'm probably in theminority there.
My 11th grader is the only onethat's allowed to bring his
device to school, and that'sjust me.
But I just I think if morepeople knew it was okay and they
weren't like well, everybodyelse has it, and I think that's
where we got onto it that wecould really maybe change a tide
(19:46):
.
So I think this policy here ishuge for that.
Jeff Johnson (19:50):
Right, yeah, and I think if I were a parent with
younger children, I would takeyour advice, corey.
I would make them create aPowerPoint for me.
I think that's a great idea.
Core Perillo (19:58):
A Google Slide.
Sorry, a Google Slide.
Okay, yeah, they don't knowwhat PowerPoint is.
Powerpoint, I'm kind ofoutdated with PowerPoint.
Now, right, they wouldn't know.
Jeff Johnson (20:05):
But I think the thing, the murmuring that I've
kind of heard from parents, likeat athletic events and things
like that, was what, in casethere's an emergency, I need to
reach my student and I'm like,yeah, their phone will be in
their backpack, but we haveschool phones so you can call
the school.
Or if your student needs to comedown to the office and call a
parent, they're more thanwelcome to do that Right, so
there is access there.
(20:26):
And I remember when the policywas just starting we're just
starting to have conversationabout the policy coming out and
I had a conversation with mydaughter who was a senior this
year, and I said, hey, lookingforward, you're not going to
have your phone in school nextyear.
And you know her first responsewas really, you know that's the
first thing she said, but sheunderstood it.
You know, and I think she'smature enough to handle it,
(20:46):
being a senior, some of theissues we're having with the
younger kids.
They're not mature enough tohandle it, but we'll get them
there.
Core Perillo (20:52):
I think for the most part the parents that I
have spoken to, they're excitedabout this policy.
They needed someone else to saywe need help with this.
And I think, even when you'relooking at your family and
you're like, wow, like are wehaving dinner together?
Is this something we're doing,or is everybody sitting on their
devices?
Those are things that areimportant to me.
I think and I mean, we have abig family and it's hard to get
(21:15):
everybody together but if we'renot paying attention to one
another, then that thatrelationship is missing.
Chris Vail (21:19):
So what's some recommendations maybe for
parents at home?
You talked about this a littlebit.
What are some recommendationsmaybe for parents at home?
You talked about this a littlebit.
What are some things maybe youdo in your own house to limit?
Jeff Johnson (21:29):
screen time.
Well, when my kids were younger, we had a basket set on the
counter and there was a timewhere we would say, okay,
phone's in the basket, so wewould separate and then have our
family time, like Coreymentioned, after that.
So that was dinner.
We were watching a movietogether.
Whatever that happened, whetherwe're walking through the
neighborhood together, whateverthat was uh, phones in the
basket.
Core Perillo (21:48):
I tell my kids when their friends are over,
you're hanging up and hangingout.
Matt Graham (21:52):
Yeah.
Core Perillo (21:52):
So you're, we don't need what.
Who do you need to talk to ifyou're with each other?
You're, you're looking at thatand I think that's important.
Also, phones at my house, um,for my younger kids they're not
in bedrooms.
So my junior, he has shown someresponsibility.
I think that's per kid.
My other kids, those cellphones, they stay downstairs.
They don't even go upstairsinto the rooms because it's just
(22:15):
it's not necessary.
Chris Vail (22:17):
I can tell you I love the phrase.
Ms Perillo, hang up and hangout, because that's what we're
looking to do.
Core Perillo (22:24):
We're looking to build those schools.
Katelynn Diehl (22:28):
I won't take it as a credit for that.
Core Perillo (22:30):
She says it to her students last year.
She's builder of thoserelationships that it shows in
her classroom, so shout out toher.
Chris Vail (22:36):
Well, that's part of the work world, right?
Having that ability to go outthere and talk to others you
might not know, and communicateand get to know people.
So that's a great catchphraseto get out there and get people
motivated about this.
Matt Graham (22:50):
Is there anything else that you would like to
share with our community aboutthe policy, like you had already
mentioned, about the emergencysituation, like you still have
it in their backpack, but isthere anything else that you
would like to share with ourcommunity about the new cell
phone policy and how's it going?
Core Perillo (23:06):
Sure, I just believe in us when we are doing
this.
As educators, we are making ourbest to be positive influences
in your children's lives.
So if we say this is somethingthat needs to happen in a
classroom because it's apositive thing, then trust us
that we're doing the right thing.
Jeff Johnson (23:23):
Yeah, and I would piggyback on that by saying you
know it's.
It's a positive situation, Ithink, for everybody involved.
You know teachers aren't havingto manage that in the classroom
, which means they can spendmore time on instructing
children, so children arelearning more.
Uh, we don't have thediscipline related to cell
phones that we have in pastyears, so administrators can do
the things they're supposed tobe doing pushing into classrooms
(23:44):
and supporting teachers andworking with students.
So I know it took us a while toget there, but I think we're
right where we need to be.
Matt Graham (23:52):
Well, I want to thank you all for coming on to
the podcast and sharing all thisinformation.
I know I took something fromthis and hopefully our community
does too and see how the awayfor the day seems to be working
in a positive light at yourschool and in your building and
hopefully, like you said,helping out that mental side.
And it's cool to hear that kidsare, you know, talking to each
(24:15):
other in the lunchrooms andthings like that.
I mean, I saw a picture wherewe went to a concert and back in
the day people had their handsup and everything.
And now you see pictures atconcerts and they're holding up
their cell phones and it's likeare you really in the moment,
right?
Are you actually enjoying thatmoment?
So again, thanks for shedding alight on all this.
The cell phone policy updates.
Chris Vail (24:36):
And it sounds like we're headed in the right
direction.
I know, mr Johnson.
I had the opportunity to visityour school a week ago with some
school board members and I wasimpressed going into a high
school and seeing kids in thehallway and they're talking to
each other walking down thehallway.
They're not.
Nobody was on their phone, noone had the earbuds or
headphones on.
(24:56):
They were getting to their nextclass.
Jeff Johnson (24:58):
Exactly, and I, you know, hands down.
It's a policy that's moving usin the right direction and it's
good for kids, and that's whatwe're here for.
Core Perillo (25:04):
So hang up and hang out.
Matt Graham (25:09):
All right listeners .
You thought we were finished.
You thought we were done onthis topic, but no, not at all.
We wanted to hear from thestudents as well, and we are
fortunate to have with us astudent from Great Bridge High
School, senior Caitlin Deal.
Welcome to the podcast.
Thanks for coming in.
Katelynn Diehl (25:26):
Thank you.
Matt Graham (25:27):
Caitlin, you are a senior.
You are also into sports,marketing and broadcasting, if
I'm not mistaken.
All right, and what are sort ofyour plans that you have for
finishing out this school year?
Katelynn Diehl (25:40):
So my plans for this school year is just to
exceed in finishing my highschool career, just to talk to
more people and get moreconnections with people.
For what I want to do, I wantto go into sports broadcasting
and my plans after high schoolis to attend an SEC school
either Auburn or Ole Miss, andmajor in sports journalism.
(26:01):
So I have been in ChesapeakePublic Schools my whole life.
My mom was a teacher, now she'sa teaching coach.
Matt Graham (26:07):
So we just had your principal, Mr Jeff Johnson, and
we had teacher Mrs CoreyPerello talking about the cell
phone policies.
What was it like when you heardcell phones are away for the
day.
Katelynn Diehl (26:19):
My first thoughts was this kind of sucks,
because it's our senior yearlast year and you can't have
your phones at all.
It kind of grew on me a littlebecause then I was like maybe
people actually learn and stuff.
But at the same time I feellike if a teacher feels that a
student is being disrespectful,then they'll put it away.
But I understand the purpose ofit.
(26:41):
Last year there were some likeincidents probably where
students were not payingattention to their teachers and
teachers couldn't get them toput their phones away.
So I understand that aspect.
It just is frustrating at somepoints when you're like have
nothing else to do in class.
Matt Graham (26:57):
How has it been like socially?
Katelynn Diehl (27:00):
Some students have become more involved in
things at school.
I do feel like everybody hasbeen talking to each other a lot
more.
I feel like in class, like, forexample, yearbook.
We have almost a whole newclass this year, so I feel like
we've all talked andcommunicated with each other a
lot more than we did last year,so we've all gotten to know each
other a little bit more than inprevious years.
Chris Vail (27:22):
So Mr Johnson was talking about the cafeteria and
said the year before he justleft the door open to his office
because it was nice and quietin there and he's noticed the
volume go up not in a bad way,but it's gone up.
When you're eating lunch in thecafeteria, what type of things
are you noticing now that cellphones aren't out?
Katelynn Diehl (27:41):
So when I'm actually in the cafeteria
sometimes I sit in the seniorcourtyard, but when I'm in the
cafeteria I've noticed it isdefinitely a lot louder and
there's a lot more people likewalking around.
It's like they don't, theycan't just sit there because
they don't know what to do withthemselves, so they just are
like walking around and they goand talk to all their different
friends from different sportsteams and stuff.
But that's mainly what I'verecognized.
Matt Graham (28:04):
One of the biggest opponents of the cell phone
policy is what about in anemergency?
Do you still feel safe withinthe building, even though the
cell phone isn't on your person,throughout the school day?
Katelynn Diehl (28:17):
Yeah, I still feel safe.
I've never felt unsafe atschool before.
If I had, I don't think I'dever have a problem.
If I had a problem, I'd justcontact or come in communication
with my teachers, or even if Ineeded to reach my mom or
something, I could always emailher.
So it's not a problem to me.
Chris Vail (28:33):
Before this policy was put in place, do you think
you spent more time, like morescreen time, on your phone?
Have you found a difference?
You personally, on your phone.
I know all of us we pick up thephone quite a bit and look at
it.
We help on different socialmedia.
Is there a change in yourbehaviors due to this policy?
Katelynn Diehl (28:51):
I don't know if it's necessarily because of the
policy I know I'm taking a lotlike right now.
This season is very busy, so Idon't know if it's because I've
been super busy and all myclasses take up time.
I don't even have time to lookat my phone.
But at school probably yes.
But when I did go on my phonelast year for school it was for
(29:12):
purposes of schoolwork.
It wasn't just to mess aroundon my phone or anything.
I used it for school.
So yes and no.
Matt Graham (29:18):
What would you tell high school students that might
be new to Virginia about thenew policy?
Katelynn Diehl (29:25):
I would tell them it's not really a big deal.
When you hear it, yes, you'relike oh my goodness, we can't
have our phones.
But when you're at schoolyou're already doing so much,
especially if you're involved inschool and if you're taking
harder classes and stuff,there's not time to go on your
phone at all.
I wouldn't have any time to goon my phone.
So I tell them it's really nota big deal.
Chris Vail (29:45):
We talked with Mrs Perillo.
Mr Johnson, you know, in theirpersonal life they both have
families at home and they setsome boundaries with the cell
phone and screen time.
Is that something in yourhousehold that your parents have
done with you?
Katelynn Diehl (30:00):
I used to have screen time my parents would set
up, but I they took it away fora little bit because I got
older.
But I set screen time formyself.
That way I'm not on my phonetoo much, so I have like an hour
on social media and the onlytime I'll take that away from
myself at game time is if I'mdoing something for, like,
sports, journalism or something.
Matt Graham (30:18):
So you set that up yourself.
Wow, that's good.
So that's some responsibilityand self-discipline with that.
Chris Vail (30:25):
Yeah, but when you were younger your parents were.
They set that up, or there weretimes when you were allowed to
use your phone and be on yourphone, and then there were other
times where they said youcouldn't.
And then, as you got older andmatured, you decided and that's
quite some maturity that youdon't even see out of adults.
Matt Graham (30:43):
I need to do that.
Chris Vail (30:47):
I need to do that.
I need to do that for real onmy phone, Putting down that
phone.
Matt Graham (30:49):
So that's impressive, Caitlin that you're
doing that on your own.
Have you seen any negativeeffects of overuse of the cell
phone within the school day,maybe in the past?
Katelynn Diehl (30:58):
I did see where it was distracting to some kids,
and when you're on your phone,you're usually on social media
or playing a game.
Half the time it's social mediaand social media has positive
and negative effects to it, andmost of the time when you're at
school, it's negative becauseyou see everything everybody
else is doing while you'resitting there in a school
building.
So I did see a lot of likenegative effects and people seem
(31:20):
a little bit more positive nowthat they don't have their
phones you know, caitlin, how'svolleyball going it.
It's going pretty good.
Chris Vail (31:27):
We're going to see in the playoffs.
Katelynn Diehl (31:29):
Hopefully, all right.
Chris Vail (31:30):
Let's go, wildcats Go.
Matt Graham (31:32):
Wildcats.
Well, thank you so much forcoming in and sharing your
perspective and thoughts with uson the cell phone policy, and
good luck in volleyball.
Thank you and congratulationson your senior year.
Thank you and good luck involleyball.
Thank you and congratulationson your senior year, thank you.
We encourage you to visit theVDOE's website for more
information on the new cellphone policy, including the most
(31:54):
recent fireside chat withJonathan Haidt and the First
Lady of Virginia.
Thanks for listening to thisepisode.
You can share your thoughts byvisiting cpschoolscom.
Forward slash amplified anddon't forget to subscribe or
follow us wherever you get yourpodcasts.
Welcome to Amplify the Chesapeake Public Schools
podcast.
Chris Vail (00:13):
Chesapeake Public Schools is located in the
Hampton Roads region ofsoutheastern Virginia.
We proudly serve over 40,000students in 45 schools and three
centers.
Join us as we share the storiesbehind our story by celebrating
the people and programs thatmake us one of the premier
school districts in Virginia.
All right, Amplified listeners,we're back for another exciting
(00:36):
episode.
Matt Graham (00:37):
That's right, this is Matt Graham and I'm here with
Chris Vail, and school is infull swing.
Chris Vail (00:43):
Hey, we are back firing on all cylinders right
now, getting these kids in theclassroom and getting after it
right.
How's it been for you and yourfamily?
It's been a great start to theschool year, just getting back
into that routine.
Both my boys like a routine.
Do better when they're on aroutine.
Yeah, so it's been a good start.
How about?
Matt Graham (01:00):
yourself.
Ah, the same.
I think this year this is wifeand I.
We finally have like the plancorrect for what can help our
kids get out of the house and agood note every day.
So I think we're going in theright direction there.
Chris Vail (01:16):
Talking about a plan right.
This school year new policy forour high school is dealing with
cell phone.
Matt Graham (01:22):
Now.
Last year, chesapeake PublicSchools did implement a new cell
phone policy.
Chris Vail (01:27):
So last year at the high school level it was off
during the day other than thecafeteria and that was up to
each principal in their schoolon whether students could use
their cell phone or why theywere at lunch.
But going into this year, thebig change is off and away for
the day Right, and that's alsoin accordance with Governor
(01:48):
Youngkin's Executive Order 33.
Matt Graham (01:50):
And that's what this episode's all about.
We were able to speak with afew people from Great Bridge
High School the principal, ateacher, even a student about
how that away for the day looksin their building.
Chris Vail (02:03):
And I think it's important getting those three
different perspectives, lookingthrough three different lenses
on whether it's been successful,what have been the challenges,
what have been the positivesmoving forward Right, and we
were planning these episodes outfor the school year.
Matt Graham (02:16):
This was one that we definitely wanted to touch
base on.
We even had a teacher reach outto us through the Ask Us
Anything show, where, if youvisit cpschoolscom forward slash
amplified you can connect withus.
So shout out to Dori Suttmillerbecause she was like, hey,
let's talk about the cell phonepolicy.
Well, guess what?
That's what we're doing.
And also, at the same time thisis crazy because it is a hot
(02:40):
topic in our state the FirstLady of Virginia and Jonathan
Haidt, who is the author of theAnxious Generation, just
recently hosted a fireside chaton this exact topic.
And here is Jonathan Haidt whodiscusses one of the parental
concerns during emergencysituations with being cell phone
free for the day.
Jonathan Haidt (03:01):
Now, I'm glad you asked that because this is
the most common objection and Icompletely understand it.
As I said, my kids go to NewYork City public schools and if
there was a shooting incident orsomething like that, I would
want to know that they're okay.
I would want to talk to them,I'd want to hear them.
But we have to do what is bestfor the kids, not what's best
(03:23):
for our feelings in the moment.
And the school security expertsall say the same thing.
When there's an emergency, thelast thing you want is every kid
pulling out their phone andsaying bye, mom, I love you.
What you want is the kids to dowhat they drilled to do.
There are reasons why we havesecurity protocols in place, and
(03:45):
so the security experts saykeep quiet, Follow directions.
The teacher has a phone.
The teachers will always havephones.
So it's a natural parentalresponse to want to call
instantly, in part because we'vebeen connected to our kids from
the moment we cut the umbilicalcord.
We stay connected to them andwe have to learn to let go and
trust that in the school theycare about the kids and they're
(04:08):
doing what's best for the kids.
So it's hard for us, but wehave to do what's best for the
kids.
Matt Graham (04:14):
So, after listening to that as a parent, well, that
was one of the big takeawaysthat I got was just that
statement there, because that,honestly, was my concern what do
we do in emergency situations?
I really liked that statementthere because that, honestly,
was my concern what do we do inemergency situations?
I really like that response andit honestly made me feel a
little bit better.
Chris Vail (04:29):
Yeah, and I think us as parents, especially where
you have kids that are from themiddle school level up, we're
used to that immediateconnection with your kid your
true, whether you're using life360 tracking your child yeah,
where they're supposed to be, orthat ability to text them to
make sure they're all right,wish them a good day.
Um, when you and I grew up, wedidn't have that and we were
(04:49):
just fine, and parents, if theyneeded to get in touch with
their child at school, they justcall the main office.
Yeah, he had a lot of goodpoints that if you haven't seen
it, it's going to be.
It's worth watching.
It's on the Virginia departmentof ed's YouTube channel.
It's definitely worth a watch,or his book is worth a read.
Matt Graham (05:07):
Right, and we're not getting paid for that plug.
They're not paying us to say it, but he definitely gets a
couple of shout outs in thisepisode because it is so
relevant in this discussion.
Chris Vail (05:17):
This topic is getting a lot of interest from
the national level andespecially at our state level,
with the route our governor istaking and getting ahead.
But you're seeing a lot ofbuy-in and a lot of different
perspectives on what's the bestway to implement something like
this.
Matt Graham (05:32):
I really enjoyed this conversation that we had
with everyone today.
So, listeners, we hope youenjoy this episode.
Sit back and relax as we jumpinto this discussion.
Joining us today we have theprincipal of Great Bridge High
School, mr Jeff Johnson, and oneof the teachers, mrs Corey
Pirello, to talk about the cellphone policy and how it's going
(05:55):
on at Great Bridge High School.
So, first off, welcome to thepodcast and before we dive into
this topic, can you both take amoment to share a little bit
about yourself so that ourlisteners get to know you a
little bit better?
Jeff Johnson (06:10):
Sure, sure, I'd love to.
First of all, I'd like to saythanks for inviting me.
This is my first podcast, sowe'll see how it goes.
This is my 30th year withChesapeake Public Schools, my
21st as an administrator, so I'mexcited about that experience
and still been able to do that.
I was on the vast board ofdirectors for six years, so I
had the opportunity there tomeet with other principals
(06:30):
throughout the state, talk aboutthings just like what we're
going to talk about today, andget their perspectives.
And then we also had thesuperintendent for public
instruction.
He would come out and meet withus from time to time so we
could share concerns and thingswith him.
So I have a varied set ofexperiences that I think have
helped me be successful at myjob at Great Bridge High School.
Core Perillo (06:48):
Thanks guys.
I am a graduate of Hickory HighSchool, so I'm a Chesapeake
product myself 1998.
I won't go back there, so I'malso a Great Bridge Wildcat.
If you guys know the GreatBridge Hickory went back and
taught at Great Bridge HighSchool in 2005,.
Was there for a few years, thenhad a bunch of children who are
now also Chesapeake studentsthere at Hickory Schools and I
(07:11):
found my way back, always comingback to Great Bridge.
So I've been there for the lastfour years and now I'm teaching
family and consumer science.
Chris Vail (07:18):
Great Well, I think we're ready to dive right into
this.
Jeff Johnson (07:22):
Dive right in.
Chris Vail (07:22):
All right.
So, mr Johnson, what does a wayfor the day look like in your
building?
Jeff Johnson (07:29):
So it's the same in my building as it is in any
building in Chesapeake PublicSchools, right?
So we have our students puttheir phones away before they
walk through the door in themorning essentially.
And they don't have access tothose phones again until after
they leave school in theafternoon.
Matt Graham (07:44):
Okay.
So where do they put them awaywhen you ask them to do that In
their backpacks?
Jeff Johnson (07:48):
Okay, and you know we wanted to make sure and I
think that's a good policy.
To be honest with you and whenyou're talking about, I know
parents had some concerns aboutstudents having access to their
phones in case there was anemergency and those kind of
things.
But their phones are in theirbackpacks so they have access to
them if they need them incertain circumstances, but for
the biggest part, we don't wantto see those phones for the
(08:08):
entire day.
Chris Vail (08:09):
Okay, so when you kicked off the school year
because it's different than lastschool year, right At the high
school level your school was one.
I think they could use it inthe cafeteria, am I correct?
Jeff Johnson (08:19):
That's correct.
Chris Vail (08:20):
So how did you get this information in the parents'
hands and in the students'hands to kick off that first day
of school on September 3rd?
Jeff Johnson (08:28):
So a shout out to the communications department
because I know you guys reallyput it out there to the families
over the summer, which wereally appreciated.
That helped us tremendously.
And then in my welcome backletter to students and families
I mentioned it in there.
And then once school started,you know, we met with each grade
level individually the secondor third day of school and we
really went through the policywith those guys.
(08:48):
So the word was out Right.
So that was kind of theirwarning at that point and what
was the first week with that,with the new change.
You know the first couple ofdays was a challenge.
We had a few students whodidn't understand what the
expectation was, but we wereable to clarify that.
But since then it's gotten muchbetter, so we haven't had a
(09:08):
major problem with it.
Chris Vail (09:09):
All right, mr Perillo, how about you from that
teacher perspective?
Last year it was a little bitdifferently, and I'm sure there
were some down times too, wherestudents were using it.
What's your perspective on thisfrom a teacher, kicking off the
year with these new rules?
Core Perillo (09:23):
It's really nice to take it out of the teacher's
hands and not make it theirresponsibility, that it's a
school-wide and it's acommunity-wide thing that we're
all getting on board for this.
Lots of research going into itand from my part, I teach
wellness, so mental wellness isreally one part of this whole
key thing about this phone.
That is sort of diving downinto these kids and trying to
(09:45):
get them out of being on thosephones all the time and trying
to really talk to one another.
Matt Graham (09:50):
Right and to go along with that you were
teaching how many?
Core Perillo (09:54):
years you said A long time.
No, don't worry, I'm reallyyoung, so how?
Matt Graham (10:00):
has the presence of cell phones maybe affected your
classroom environment ordynamics the past few years?
Core Perillo (10:06):
Yeah, I mean, you can tell their personalities and
it's kind of a time suck and itmakes them a little unmotivated
.
If they can be like I can do mywork later and they're just
something that they want to do,there's no excuses now.
It's not an option to do that.
Let's get the work done, let'sgrind it out and then you can
relax.
I've got lots of differentgames that I've created to play
(10:29):
with them, to kind of just bringthem back to being kids,
because even high schoolersthey're kids.
So trying to just promote that.
Being in a school where Ididn't have cell phones, I don't
even remember what it's like,honestly, to not have a cell
phone in the classroom.
It's just kind of there and Iunderstand I do.
Jeff Johnson (10:47):
I'm that old.
Core Perillo (10:50):
But in the last few years it's kind of just
overtaken our world and oureducation and it's time to get
back to the important part ofeducation.
Chris Vail (10:58):
Well, I want to dig in a little bit into that
teacher workroom and thoseconversations that are going on
at Great Bridge High Schoolabout the cell phone policy.
You just talked about the ideaof having games in your
classroom during that downtime.
Is that something that theteachers you guys are
collaborating about?
You know how to fill that needwhen, before it could be, hey,
just pull out your phone, youcan listen to music while you're
(11:19):
doing your work.
How are you guys talking aboutthis?
Core Perillo (11:22):
Absolutely.
I have an amazing departmentand we really work together at
that and share all of our things.
We have a co-curricular clubthat we have really ignited this
year where we have members whoare trying to plan you know
events and community activities,even simple things that just
you know painting rocks to justkind of spread a little bit of
color in our senior court.
They weren't doing that beforebecause they were more
(11:45):
interested in being on a deviceinstead of actually being
involved in their community.
Matt Graham (11:51):
I've heard one of the biggest changes is the
lunchroom environment.
So you were saying that thelunch last year they could have
it out in lunch, but with thisnew policy this year that's not
the case across our schools,right?
So what's the major change thatyou've maybe seen with that?
Jeff Johnson (12:06):
So I'm glad you brought that point up.
So the back door of my officeopens up to the lunchroom.
So when the bell rings forfirst lunch I open that door
just so I can just kind of bethere, walk out, kind of see
what's going on.
I would have that door openduring meetings last year
because the noise level was solow I didn't have to worry about
it.
But now what we're hearing,with these kids not having their
phones out, is they're havingconversations with each other.
(12:28):
So the noise level is elevated.
But it's a great, you know,it's a great conversation
they're having with theirfriends and they're creating
friendships.
It's just a bonus for all of usreally.
Chris Vail (12:37):
So you're welcoming that noise level in the
cafeteria, Mr Johnson.
Jeff Johnson (12:40):
Absolutely, absolutely.
Core Perillo (12:42):
Yeah, I think a loud class is a positive class
for mostly.
I mean I like my kids talk whenit's too quiet, it's like it's
like what's going on here, likeyou want them to be engaged and
when they have their phones it'svery easy to be not engaged.
You're meeting new people thatmaybe you wouldn't have even you
would have sat next to a kidand not even known their name
and now you know you're kind offorced to stare at the person
(13:05):
across from you and have aconversation and I just think
that's huge yeah.
Chris Vail (13:16):
Well, it hasn't been difficult in the cafeteria,
though, making that transitionfrom last year.
Hey, I can throw on my ear podsor headphones, I can watch a
reel, but now I can't have itout.
How's that transition gone?
Jeff Johnson (13:24):
We haven't really seen any kind of escalation and
issues that we had to deal with.
Actually, it's been a littlebit better.
Wow, that's good Because theyare communicating and they are
creating these relationships.
So it's been great.
We've had some incidents wherestudents have wanted to get on
their cell phone to check theirtext messages or things like
that Snapchat, I'm sure, butthey're going to the restroom.
So we're catching them becausewe're monitoring our restrooms
(13:46):
and they're like, oh my gosh, assoon as you walk in, I'll see
the kid in the corner of therestroom with the phone.
They're like oh, I'm sorry, mrJohnson, and I'm like, okay,
well, come on, follow me.
You know, everybody makes amistake.
We'll just make sure we getthis right.
So we've liked it, we'vewelcomed it.
It's been a great change in ourcafeteria and we've seen very
few issues as a result of takingthose funds away.
Core Perillo (14:03):
And I think teachers do a great job too.
We have the library.
That's a much quieter spot.
Student does not like to be ina loud place, so I think we have
places where kids can go, andeven our club is meeting at
lunch to kind of communicate.
So there's options for kids ifthey don't want to be.
I understand you don't want tobe in a loud clock, in a loud
(14:24):
lunchroom, but this way they cando that and meet with their
friends, and the kids who wantto be in a quieter spot also
have that option.
Chris Vail (14:31):
Right.
So what happens?
Let's say we have a studentthat violates your cell phone
policy, that they have it out,mr Johnson or Mrs Perlow, it's
in your classroom.
You know what's next steps.
Jeff Johnson (14:45):
So they call security and security comes down
, picks up the phone, takes youto the front desk and then we
log it in and we have a log andthen my assistant principals
have access to that so they knowwhat kid what kid has you know
had their phone confiscated andwhat number they're at.
Okay, so if it's the first one,it's warning, they pick it up
at the end of the day.
Second one, then parent has topick up, and so on and so on.
I have to tell you I'm gonnagive my, my students and my
(15:06):
teachers a shout out real quick.
My students have been amazinglyrespectful.
So any student that I havewalked up to caught them in the
bathroom or they've had theirphone out.
They were like yes, sir, no sir,I apologize, that kind of thing
.
And my teachers are holding theline.
They're doing a really good joband my word to them has always
been I don't want you to stopwhat you're doing.
Your job is to teach.
(15:26):
I don't want you to try tomanage cell phones in your
classroom.
That's our job.
So they do a really good jobabout getting on the phone and
calling security and then goright back to work and keep
doing what they're supposed tobe doing.
Core Perillo (15:36):
I've fortunately had one incident all year which
I can't even believe, I thinktrying to make it as small as a
problem.
You know it shouldn't bebreaking up the day, and the
more that we continue doing thisthis way, then the less of
those we'll have, because theyknow it's going to get taken
away from them, so they don'twant that to happen.
Chris Vail (15:53):
How about the issues with social media?
Do you think this has helped totone that down a little bit?
Jeff Johnson (15:59):
Yeah, and I'll give you an example of that.
So we had an issue with twostudents on the bus this morning
and as soon as they came intothe building and I walked into
my assistant principal's officeand I said, well, hey, how'd
this start?
And she said, well, she talkedabout me on social media.
So she was at the bus stop andshe looked it up, she saw this
girl had said something to heror said something about her on
social media.
(16:19):
So that started theconfrontation right there.
So we're not getting that inschool now.
It used to be when kids couldget on their phone at lunch.
They could look at them andthey were snapping each other
and next thing, you know, we hadthree or four kids in the
bathroom and there was some typeof argument or altercation.
Matt Graham (16:34):
Right, so discipline's gone down from the
first month of school.
Jeff Johnson (16:37):
You've noticed already.
Matt Graham (16:38):
Exactly.
Katelynn Diehl (16:39):
Wow.
Matt Graham (16:40):
Okay.
In the past we had BYOD, bringyour own device and we allowed
our students to bring in theirdevice and when the teacher
permitted it, it was okay to use.
So some people might think thatare we taking a step backwards
with technology or implementingtechnology in the classroom with
this policy?
What's your take on that, orwhat's something that you would
(17:01):
talk to our community about?
Core Perillo (17:03):
I mean, they all have a Chromebook, so they can't
argue.
You can take a picture on aChromebook, you can look on the
internet on the Chromebook, youcan listen to music on the
Chromebook, and every child atin Chesapeake public schools is
given a Chromebook, so that Idon't think it's backwards at
all.
Jeff Johnson (17:18):
Okay, no, I don't either, and I think the teachers
have box lights in their roomtoo, so they have that added
technology and that's workingout great as interactive
technology.
So, uh, no, I'm, I'm.
I agree with Ms Perillo.
I think they're right where weneed to be.
Matt Graham (17:29):
And I had to agree with you too, because when I was
in the classroom, there wastimes where we would, and it was
the time where we could be YODand bring the own device and I
had the students use certainapps and programs and and
sometimes the apps didn't evenwork well.
It was always better on thelaptop or the Chromebook or
whatever we were using at thattime.
Chris Vail (17:47):
Yeah, let's go with the parents.
Let's talk about all of us inthis room.
We're parents.
I have a high school student.
I have a middle school student.
Ms Perillo, you have four kidsthat are in school.
Mr Johnson, your daughter's asenior in high school right now
and I'm sure when this came outthey weren't happy.
I know my own son was notthrilled that the cell phone was
(18:09):
going to go away from the day,and I know we've heard from some
parents too.
What's the message you'd liketo get out to parents?
What are some things they mightnot realize?
That goes on with cell phonesin the school?
When they were allowed, why didthey need to be away for the
day?
Core Perillo (18:23):
I would encourage them to read a book.
It's called the AnxiousGeneration.
You can even and it kind of isfunny, because it's a social
media app too you can read it onInstagram and I know that's
kind of like you know, ironic,but it really just focuses on
the kids these days and whatthey, that the play has been
taken away from them, that theyare becoming adults in much
quicker places.
(18:44):
So, as a parent, I love it.
I'm also a mom that, like myeighth grader, she doesn't even
still have Snapchat, because Iknew she couldn't handle it, I
knew it wasn't good for hermental health, and that's
because I'm in the buildings andI watch these middle school and
high school teenagers.
They're struggling with whothey are and what they want to
be, and I said write me aPowerPoint presentation on the
(19:04):
good reasons for Snapchat and Iwill consider it, so you said
that to your daughter I did Isaid it, I said go ahead.
I'm all ears, I'm ready.
And she couldn't do it.
And she hasn't fought me aboutit anymore because she realizes
mentally, like she looks atwhat's going on, even when she's
with her other friends in theirSnapchat, and they start to get
, and it's just a.
(19:26):
I want them to be kids.
I want them my.
You know, my fifth graderdoesn't have a phone.
I think I'm probably in theminority there.
My 11th grader is the only onethat's allowed to bring his
device to school, and that'sjust me.
But I just I think if morepeople knew it was okay and they
weren't like well, everybodyelse has it, and I think that's
where we got onto it that wecould really maybe change a tide
(19:46):
.
So I think this policy here ishuge for that.
Jeff Johnson (19:50):
Right, yeah, and I think if I were a parent with
younger children, I would takeyour advice, corey.
I would make them create aPowerPoint for me.
I think that's a great idea.
Core Perillo (19:58):
A Google Slide.
Sorry, a Google Slide.
Okay, yeah, they don't knowwhat PowerPoint is.
Powerpoint, I'm kind ofoutdated with PowerPoint.
Now, right, they wouldn't know.
Jeff Johnson (20:05):
But I think the thing, the murmuring that I've
kind of heard from parents, likeat athletic events and things
like that, was what, in casethere's an emergency, I need to
reach my student and I'm like,yeah, their phone will be in
their backpack, but we haveschool phones so you can call
the school.
Or if your student needs to comedown to the office and call a
parent, they're more thanwelcome to do that Right, so
there is access there.
(20:26):
And I remember when the policywas just starting we're just
starting to have conversationabout the policy coming out and
I had a conversation with mydaughter who was a senior this
year, and I said, hey, lookingforward, you're not going to
have your phone in school nextyear.
And you know her first responsewas really, you know that's the
first thing she said, but sheunderstood it.
You know, and I think she'smature enough to handle it,
(20:46):
being a senior, some of theissues we're having with the
younger kids.
They're not mature enough tohandle it, but we'll get them
there.
Core Perillo (20:52):
I think for the most part the parents that I
have spoken to, they're excitedabout this policy.
They needed someone else to saywe need help with this.
And I think, even when you'relooking at your family and
you're like, wow, like are wehaving dinner together?
Is this something we're doing,or is everybody sitting on their
devices?
Those are things that areimportant to me.
I think and I mean, we have abig family and it's hard to get
(21:15):
everybody together but if we'renot paying attention to one
another, then that thatrelationship is missing.
Chris Vail (21:19):
So what's some recommendations maybe for
parents at home?
You talked about this a littlebit.
What are some recommendationsmaybe for parents at home?
You talked about this a littlebit.
What are some things maybe youdo in your own house to limit?
Jeff Johnson (21:29):
screen time.
Well, when my kids were younger, we had a basket set on the
counter and there was a timewhere we would say, okay,
phone's in the basket, so wewould separate and then have our
family time, like Coreymentioned, after that.
So that was dinner.
We were watching a movietogether.
Whatever that happened, whetherwe're walking through the
neighborhood together, whateverthat was uh, phones in the
basket.
Core Perillo (21:48):
I tell my kids when their friends are over,
you're hanging up and hangingout.
Matt Graham (21:52):
Yeah.
Core Perillo (21:52):
So you're, we don't need what.
Who do you need to talk to ifyou're with each other?
You're, you're looking at thatand I think that's important.
Also, phones at my house, um,for my younger kids they're not
in bedrooms.
So my junior, he has shown someresponsibility.
I think that's per kid.
My other kids, those cellphones, they stay downstairs.
They don't even go upstairsinto the rooms because it's just
(22:15):
it's not necessary.
Chris Vail (22:17):
I can tell you I love the phrase.
Ms Perillo, hang up and hangout, because that's what we're
looking to do.
Core Perillo (22:24):
We're looking to build those schools.
Katelynn Diehl (22:28):
I won't take it as a credit for that.
Core Perillo (22:30):
She says it to her students last year.
She's builder of thoserelationships that it shows in
her classroom, so shout out toher.
Chris Vail (22:36):
Well, that's part of the work world, right?
Having that ability to go outthere and talk to others you
might not know, and communicateand get to know people.
So that's a great catchphraseto get out there and get people
motivated about this.
Matt Graham (22:50):
Is there anything else that you would like to
share with our community aboutthe policy, like you had already
mentioned, about the emergencysituation, like you still have
it in their backpack, but isthere anything else that you
would like to share with ourcommunity about the new cell
phone policy and how's it going?
Core Perillo (23:06):
Sure, I just believe in us when we are doing
this.
As educators, we are making ourbest to be positive influences
in your children's lives.
So if we say this is somethingthat needs to happen in a
classroom because it's apositive thing, then trust us
that we're doing the right thing.
Jeff Johnson (23:23):
Yeah, and I would piggyback on that by saying you
know it's.
It's a positive situation, Ithink, for everybody involved.
You know teachers aren't havingto manage that in the classroom
, which means they can spendmore time on instructing
children, so children arelearning more.
Uh, we don't have thediscipline related to cell
phones that we have in pastyears, so administrators can do
the things they're supposed tobe doing pushing into classrooms
(23:44):
and supporting teachers andworking with students.
So I know it took us a while toget there, but I think we're
right where we need to be.
Matt Graham (23:52):
Well, I want to thank you all for coming on to
the podcast and sharing all thisinformation.
I know I took something fromthis and hopefully our community
does too and see how the awayfor the day seems to be working
in a positive light at yourschool and in your building and
hopefully, like you said,helping out that mental side.
And it's cool to hear that kidsare, you know, talking to each
(24:15):
other in the lunchrooms andthings like that.
I mean, I saw a picture wherewe went to a concert and back in
the day people had their handsup and everything.
And now you see pictures atconcerts and they're holding up
their cell phones and it's likeare you really in the moment,
right?
Are you actually enjoying thatmoment?
So again, thanks for shedding alight on all this.
The cell phone policy updates.
Chris Vail (24:36):
And it sounds like we're headed in the right
direction.
I know, mr Johnson.
I had the opportunity to visityour school a week ago with some
school board members and I wasimpressed going into a high
school and seeing kids in thehallway and they're talking to
each other walking down thehallway.
They're not.
Nobody was on their phone, noone had the earbuds or
headphones on.
(24:56):
They were getting to their nextclass.
Jeff Johnson (24:58):
Exactly, and I, you know, hands down.
It's a policy that's moving usin the right direction and it's
good for kids, and that's whatwe're here for.
Core Perillo (25:04):
So hang up and hang out.
Matt Graham (25:09):
All right listeners .
You thought we were finished.
You thought we were done onthis topic, but no, not at all.
We wanted to hear from thestudents as well, and we are
fortunate to have with us astudent from Great Bridge High
School, senior Caitlin Deal.
Welcome to the podcast.
Thanks for coming in.
Katelynn Diehl (25:26):
Thank you.
Matt Graham (25:27):
Caitlin, you are a senior.
You are also into sports,marketing and broadcasting, if
I'm not mistaken.
All right, and what are sort ofyour plans that you have for
finishing out this school year?
Katelynn Diehl (25:40):
So my plans for this school year is just to
exceed in finishing my highschool career, just to talk to
more people and get moreconnections with people.
For what I want to do, I wantto go into sports broadcasting
and my plans after high schoolis to attend an SEC school
either Auburn or Ole Miss, andmajor in sports journalism.
(26:01):
So I have been in ChesapeakePublic Schools my whole life.
My mom was a teacher, now she'sa teaching coach.
Matt Graham (26:07):
So we just had your principal, Mr Jeff Johnson, and
we had teacher Mrs CoreyPerello talking about the cell
phone policies.
What was it like when you heardcell phones are away for the
day.
Katelynn Diehl (26:19):
My first thoughts was this kind of sucks,
because it's our senior yearlast year and you can't have
your phones at all.
It kind of grew on me a littlebecause then I was like maybe
people actually learn and stuff.
But at the same time I feellike if a teacher feels that a
student is being disrespectful,then they'll put it away.
But I understand the purpose ofit.
(26:41):
Last year there were some likeincidents probably where
students were not payingattention to their teachers and
teachers couldn't get them toput their phones away.
So I understand that aspect.
It just is frustrating at somepoints when you're like have
nothing else to do in class.
Matt Graham (26:57):
How has it been like socially?
Katelynn Diehl (27:00):
Some students have become more involved in
things at school.
I do feel like everybody hasbeen talking to each other a lot
more.
I feel like in class, like, forexample, yearbook.
We have almost a whole newclass this year, so I feel like
we've all talked andcommunicated with each other a
lot more than we did last year,so we've all gotten to know each
other a little bit more than inprevious years.
Chris Vail (27:22):
So Mr Johnson was talking about the cafeteria and
said the year before he justleft the door open to his office
because it was nice and quietin there and he's noticed the
volume go up not in a bad way,but it's gone up.
When you're eating lunch in thecafeteria, what type of things
are you noticing now that cellphones aren't out?
Katelynn Diehl (27:41):
So when I'm actually in the cafeteria
sometimes I sit in the seniorcourtyard, but when I'm in the
cafeteria I've noticed it isdefinitely a lot louder and
there's a lot more people likewalking around.
It's like they don't, theycan't just sit there because
they don't know what to do withthemselves, so they just are
like walking around and they goand talk to all their different
friends from different sportsteams and stuff.
But that's mainly what I'verecognized.
Matt Graham (28:04):
One of the biggest opponents of the cell phone
policy is what about in anemergency?
Do you still feel safe withinthe building, even though the
cell phone isn't on your person,throughout the school day?
Katelynn Diehl (28:17):
Yeah, I still feel safe.
I've never felt unsafe atschool before.
If I had, I don't think I'dever have a problem.
If I had a problem, I'd justcontact or come in communication
with my teachers, or even if Ineeded to reach my mom or
something, I could always emailher.
So it's not a problem to me.
Chris Vail (28:33):
Before this policy was put in place, do you think
you spent more time, like morescreen time, on your phone?
Have you found a difference?
You personally, on your phone.
I know all of us we pick up thephone quite a bit and look at
it.
We help on different socialmedia.
Is there a change in yourbehaviors due to this policy?
Katelynn Diehl (28:51):
I don't know if it's necessarily because of the
policy I know I'm taking a lotlike right now.
This season is very busy, so Idon't know if it's because I've
been super busy and all myclasses take up time.
I don't even have time to lookat my phone.
But at school probably yes.
But when I did go on my phonelast year for school it was for
(29:12):
purposes of schoolwork.
It wasn't just to mess aroundon my phone or anything.
I used it for school.
So yes and no.
Matt Graham (29:18):
What would you tell high school students that might
be new to Virginia about thenew policy?
Katelynn Diehl (29:25):
I would tell them it's not really a big deal.
When you hear it, yes, you'relike oh my goodness, we can't
have our phones.
But when you're at schoolyou're already doing so much,
especially if you're involved inschool and if you're taking
harder classes and stuff,there's not time to go on your
phone at all.
I wouldn't have any time to goon my phone.
So I tell them it's really nota big deal.
Chris Vail (29:45):
We talked with Mrs Perillo.
Mr Johnson, you know, in theirpersonal life they both have
families at home and they setsome boundaries with the cell
phone and screen time.
Is that something in yourhousehold that your parents have
done with you?
Katelynn Diehl (30:00):
I used to have screen time my parents would set
up, but I they took it away fora little bit because I got
older.
But I set screen time formyself.
That way I'm not on my phonetoo much, so I have like an hour
on social media and the onlytime I'll take that away from
myself at game time is if I'mdoing something for, like,
sports, journalism or something.
Matt Graham (30:18):
So you set that up yourself.
Wow, that's good.
So that's some responsibilityand self-discipline with that.
Chris Vail (30:25):
Yeah, but when you were younger your parents were.
They set that up, or there weretimes when you were allowed to
use your phone and be on yourphone, and then there were other
times where they said youcouldn't.
And then, as you got older andmatured, you decided and that's
quite some maturity that youdon't even see out of adults.
Matt Graham (30:43):
I need to do that.
Chris Vail (30:47):
I need to do that.
I need to do that for real onmy phone, Putting down that
phone.
Matt Graham (30:49):
So that's impressive, Caitlin that you're
doing that on your own.
Have you seen any negativeeffects of overuse of the cell
phone within the school day,maybe in the past?
Katelynn Diehl (30:58):
I did see where it was distracting to some kids,
and when you're on your phone,you're usually on social media
or playing a game.
Half the time it's social mediaand social media has positive
and negative effects to it, andmost of the time when you're at
school, it's negative becauseyou see everything everybody
else is doing while you'resitting there in a school
building.
So I did see a lot of likenegative effects and people seem
(31:20):
a little bit more positive nowthat they don't have their
phones you know, caitlin, how'svolleyball going it.
It's going pretty good.
Chris Vail (31:27):
We're going to see in the playoffs.
Katelynn Diehl (31:29):
Hopefully, all right.
Chris Vail (31:30):
Let's go, wildcats Go.
Matt Graham (31:32):
Wildcats.
Well, thank you so much forcoming in and sharing your
perspective and thoughts with uson the cell phone policy, and
good luck in volleyball.
Thank you and congratulationson your senior year.
Thank you and good luck involleyball.
Thank you and congratulationson your senior year, thank you.
We encourage you to visit theVDOE's website for more
information on the new cellphone policy, including the most
(31:54):
recent fireside chat withJonathan Haidt and the First
Lady of Virginia.
Thanks for listening to thisepisode.
You can share your thoughts byvisiting cpschoolscom.
Forward slash amplified anddon't forget to subscribe or
follow us wherever you get yourpodcasts.
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