Starting last Wednesday, Yondr pouches have been implemented in the middle school up to 9th grade. Phones are not allowed to be used during the school day by grades 6-9 or on any floor other than the fourth, including break times. Nonetheless, this was complicated to keep control of which is why a new system has been put in place. Yondr pouches are rectangular neoprene bags, a little bigger than a phone, with a magnet at the top. The magnet is what is used to open and close them, using a bigger magnet found at the entrance of the school before 8.30 and after 3.30. The QQ has carried out a few interviews with middle school students to find out what they think about this new system. 

Most students throughout middle school kept their phones on them at all times and a few used them during breaks, however, for no longer than a minute. Those who used them claimed it was because they wanted to check their notifications in between classes, but all agreed phones never interfered with socialising. One student stated, ‘It couldn’t stop me from socialising, it’s a 30-minute break and I only checked it for a few seconds.’ Another middle schooler said, ‘It never interfered. You just stop using it if someone comes up to you, the same way you act with computers.’. 

Now that the Yondr pouches are in use there have been changes to routines, the most noticeable one being the procedure before entering the building. Students are required to take the pouch out of their bags, open it with the magnets at the entrance, and place their phones in it. This means they must bring the pouch to school every day and if they forget it will be more of an inconvenience to them and the staff in charge of getting them a temporary one. Students have said that although there isn’t as long of a wait to get to the magnets as they had expected, it is still bothersome. One 9th grader explained, ‘Because my phone is in the pouch even before classes I can’t listen to music while waiting for my first class which is quite annoying.’ It has also been stated that remembering to take it to classes is quite a struggle but hopefully, they’ll get used to it soon. 

In conclusion, students don’t think it is worth the hassle and call it a waste of money – even for students who have not used their phones before. Many wish a phone box were used in classrooms which would be cheaper for the school and less time consuming for the students. Many hope that this system will only be kept for grades 6-7 and that the years above get more freedom. Nonetheless, they do recognise that this makes it easier for the SIS staff to control phone use. Hopefully, all new rules with the pouches will become routine and this will become something students get used to.