Westford Public Schools introduced Yondr pouches at the two Westford middle schools, Stony Brook and Blanchard, last fall with the intention of helping students stay focused in class by restricting phone usage during school hours. Now, several months into the initiative, teachers are noticing significant shifts in student behavior, such as increased attentiveness and participation.
Yondr pouches are small, fabric cases designed to securely lock away students’ smartphones and other electronic devices during school hours. Once sealed, the pouches can only be unlocked by a special magnet at the exit of the school, preventing students from accessing their phones throughout the day. Initially introduced as a way to curb constant distractions in the classroom, these pouches have become a part of daily routines for middle schoolers at both schools.
“Teachers have seen much less distraction and [students] leaving class,” Stony Brook principal Allison Hammer said. “[Class] was often a time kids would check phones at their lockers or in the bathroom. Taking that distraction away helps all of our students to be more focused on their learning.”
Student feedback so far has been mixed. According to Blanchard 8th grader Akshaya Parthibhan, there are three common complaints among students: the crowds of students shoving each other to get to the magnets, the pouches being a requirement for every student, and staff forgetting to re-attach the magnets at the end of the day.
“I think that [Yondr pouches] have not significantly improved the phone situation for students at Blanchard,” Parthibhan said. “Most, if not all, of the students I interact with on a day-to-day basis do not like the pouches, and think that they are unnecessary and irritating to use.”
Yondr pouches and the process of locking phones away are still fairly new, only having been implemented in November. Meaning students and teachers alike have not had much time to adjust to this new reality, but some students have already risen up and taken responsibility for the new aspect of their routines.
“Throughout the year, as students get new phones and devices, they come to the office to pick up their Yondr pouch,” Hammer said. “[This] shows that even with the excitement of a new phone, they understand that it is not something to be used in school.”
Westford Academy currently does not have Yondr pouches, but as Hammer, and numerous studies mention, middle school students and high school students have different developmental needs. This means that Yondr might not be the best option for high schoolers, but for now, the program remains a fixture at Stony Brook and Blanchard.
“Given the positive outcomes […] I think that [Yondr pouches] will likely continue as part of the normal procedures for middle school,” Hammer said. “I do not want to go back to a time when kids have that distraction throughout the day because it is not good for their social-emotional well-being or for their ability to focus on their academics.“
Considering that the Yondr program is likely here to stay, it’s worth noting that there’s still plenty of room for improvement.
“I would give every class their own magnet, so there would be less crowding in the hallways, and students would not have to rush to a magnet to unlock their pouches.” Parthibhan said.
While the program has not been without its challenges, the overall impact has been clear: students are less distracted and more engaged in their academics.
