Gov. Kevin Stitt Visits Jenks, Bixby High Schools To Observe No-Phone Policies

Gov. Kevin Stitt visited Jenks and Bixby High Schools on Wednesday to check out their no-phone policies during the school day.

The governor also held forums at both schools to give students an opportunity to talk about whether they like the rule or not.

Leanne Lowry is a senior at Jenks high school, and she says Governor Stitt's visit and forum showed her the governor cares, and she believes the no phone policy sets students up for success.

Stitt encouraged school districts to adopt a no phone policy in September, and two Green Country schools, Jenks and Bixby, had one in place to start the school year. He wanted to see how their policies, which are the same, are working in person. 

"We're just kind of asking questions," he said. how does it help with the classroom environment? Are the teachers able to teach better? Are there less distractions?"

He visited the two schools and allowed students to share their opinions on the no-phone policy their school is enforcing. Stitt says he wasn't expecting some of the feedback he received.

"I was surprised when I was at Bixby that the students said, 'You know, now we literally don't miss them,' 'We actually like it. It's not like fear of missing out because nobody has their cell phones, so we're more engaged with one another,'" said Governor Stitt. 

Leanne appreciated the opportunity to speak her mind.

"I informed them about everything with safety at the high school, along with they asked some questions about how anxiety levels have been and how the focus has changed with the bell to bell no-phone policy Jenks is currently implementing," she said.

Leanne says without her phone in class, she's seen an improvement in not just her schoolwork but her relationships.

"It's helped me just focusing more and staying on track with my work and more connected with my teachers and classmates and peers and not through a screen all day," she said.

Gov. Stitt says he wants education in Oklahoma to be top ten, and getting rid of phones in the classroom is just another step to reach that goal.