Have they managed to get used to it? The new reality for students in schools - without cellphones

Two weeks after the start of the school year, many schools are implementing new Ministry of Education guidelines banning cellphone use during the school day. Students deposit their devices at the beginning of the day and receive them back at the end. The blanket deposit is met with resistance mainly among older students, who see the device as an integral part of their daily routine. Meanwhile, schools are defining clear contact hours for parents, aiming to restore boundaries in communication with educational staff.

Two weeks after the start of the school year, many schools in Israel are implementing new Ministry of Education guidelines banning cellphone use during the school day. Students deposit their devices at the beginning of the day and receive them back at the end. The article describes how breaks are changing: students report more games and face-to-face conversations, and some even express satisfaction with the change. However, resistance to the blanket deposit is stronger among older students, who have spent much of their recent school years with the phone attached to them. For them, the device is not just a distraction but a means of communication and an integral part of their daily routine. Meanwhile, schools are defining clear hours when educational staff can be contacted, aiming to restore boundaries in communication with parents. Teachers welcome the change, which is not about disconnecting from parents but an attempt to restore boundaries in the relationship. The article presents a complex picture: support for reducing device use during school hours, but reservations about blanket deposit, mainly from the parent leadership.