Technology exists that can render cellphones useless in a classroom. We can block phone signals. We can shut these electronic distractions down.

Eduhonesty: Forget all these varied and futile attempts at cell phone policies. Forget trying rules that allow phones in the hallway and cafeteria, but not the bathroom or classroom. For one thing, I guarantee the conversation/thread that started in the hallway will often not shut down after crossing the classroom threshold. Forget dealing with excuses like, “My mom wants me to have it in an emergency.”

Fifteen minutes of secret texting a day is 1 1/4 hours in one week or about a week of school by the end of the year. The student texting is probably communicating with another student in the building who is also losing a week of school. Block the calls.