Phone Bans Sweep US Schools Despite Skepticism

Students at Twain Middle School in Virginia must store their phones in magnetic pouches at the start of each day (Credit: AFP)

At a red-brick school in Virginia, Hayden Jones is one of 1,000 students banned from using their phones as part of a trial hoping to boost learning.

But the 12-year-old's verdict on the restrictions -- a shrug of his shoulders -- reflects the skepticism shared by some students and parents.