In a district rocked by a teen’s recent suicide, Middletown schools are among a handful in New Jersey that are implementing new rules to restrict cellphone use — at least while in school.
Kate Farley, a parent and board member of the Middletown Board of Education, spearheaded a new policy called “Away for The Day” that she said is more of a break from cellphone use than an outright ban. She said it is aimed at reducing classroom distractions and bullying.
The proposed policy comes after the district was recently sued by the family of a teen who died by suicide two years ago after having been bullied online.
Middletown isn’t the only district to put new cellphone policies in place. Montclair, Plainfield, and Linden started using Yonder, a cellphone pouch that students carry with them all day but can’t unlock until the end of the day. Aitya Perkins, Linden’s school superintendent, said after pushback from students, Yonder was put to use in 2023 in the district’s two middle schools and the high school and has been a game-changer.
