Bourbon School Year Begins With Phone Ban

The 2022-23 school year is underway at Crawford County R-1, but students no longer have access to their phones throughout the day.

Classes began Tuesday with students at the middle school and high school checking their phones in at the office or leaving them in their vehicles.

Bourbon made the announcement on their Facebook page Aug. 22, one day before school started. It was voted on by the board Aug. 9.

In the Facebook post, the district said the phone ban is being implemented “to minimize student distraction away from learning and also to create a safe, social media free environment for our students while they are at school.”

Bourbon says cell phone use contributes to “disruptive and inappropriate communication.” 

Some school districts throughout the country have made the decision to ban phones.

Last April, Crawford County R-III in Steelville banned phones at the high school. The decision made headlines across the state.

Charleston High School in southeastern Missouri also banned phones.

Nearby St. Clair opted not to go for a phone ban.

Bourbon says that school districts that have implemented the ban have seen an “immediate decrease” in school discipline, along with “increased student learning.”

The Facebook post generated plenty of discussion, but when the school board met Thursday, nobody was in attendance to take issue.

BHS Principal Matt Peregoy and BMS Principal Brian Witt reported that the phone check-in every morning has gone smoothly.