Schools that makes all students lock their phones in pouches before class is leaving people divided

Many schools across the US have starting using new phone-locking technology that prevents students from using their devices in class.

41 states have spent $2.5 million on buying pouches from Yondr over the past few years - with most purchases being made in 2022 and onwards.

Unless you have a student in school, it's unlikely you'll heard of Yondr - a California start-up which was founded in 2014.

According to the company, 'there are times and places where phones simply do not belong' and thus the Yondr pouch was born.

The pouches are slightly bigger than your average smartphone and uses magnet technology to keep people's devices locked away.

You need a certain device to unlock the pouch, which many schools have located outside of classrooms so students can lock the pouch before going into the room.

The technology that keeps the pouch closed bares some similarity to security tags you find in retail stores.

Since implementing the technology in schools, may educators have raved about the possible results.

High school principal Lara Robinson said to 12 News Now last year after installing Yondr tech in her school: "They're going to be able to focus on connections between the teachers and the students as well as peer-to-peer interactions."

Many schools across the US now have Yondr pouches for students (ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

Diego Ochoa, the superintendent of the San Mateo-Foster City School District in California, called the pouches 'an unquestioned success'.

Meanwhile, some people on social media think Yondr should be in all schools.

"This should be a mandatory rule across all 50 states," one person replied to a video of students using Yondr technology.

"Great idea...take back control of classrooms and educating the children," said another.

But not everyone is in favor of it.

"Naw I disagree with this," one person said on Twitter. "If something happens at that school I need my child to call me."

A special device is needed to unlock the pouches (Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

Noting a 2022 school shooting that left 21 people dead, someone else penned: "This is a firm no from me, especially considering what happened in Uvalde. The only reason we know the full extent of what happened is because of the desperate phone calls made by the children."

Echoing similar sentiments, another person said: "I don’t know about this! If they can’t keep cops around the school 24/7 I wouldn’t want my kid turning in their phone! What happens in case of another school shooting or something? They’re sitting ducks with no phones for emergency calls."

Yondr have been approached for comment.