Oregon schools see ‘positive response’ to Yondr pouches

OREGON, Ill. (WTVO) — Oregon schools said students have responded positively to the implementation of Yondr pouches as they acclimate to the new school year and routine.

The Oregon School District partnered with Yondr to provide all students with lockable pouches to stow their cellphones during classes, as part of the district’s cellphone ban in July.

“Students, as we imagined, weren’t super excited at first to have their phones put away, especially after having them all summer,” Oregon Jr.-Sr.’s Assistant Principal Shannon Cremeens explained. “But once they got in, we’ve seen nothing but positive responses in the classroom and around the building.”

“A lot of people, for the first couple of days, would forget them or just not put their phone in them, but I think it’s been going pretty well,” said Oregon senior Virginia Sowl.

The school previously utilized phone lockers in an attempt to keep a phone-free environment, but administrators said the system was unreliable.

“Prior to the pouches, they really did have to take time and plan at the start and end of every period, for their phone policies,” Cremeens continued. “So this just allows them that full class time for lessons and engagement.”

The assistant principal feels a phone-free environment has created more social interaction.

“Students are now speaking to each other, having conversations and really, we’re seeing a lot of engagement in the classroom,” Cremeens concluded.