California passes school cellphone restrictions. But some students find workarounds

Students place their phone in the pouch and lock it under supervision as they enter campus. The pouch is opened with a special magnet release when they leave at the end of the day. — AFP/Getty Images/TNS

LOS ANGELES: At Dymally High School in South Los Angeles, test scores are slightly up, fights are down and teachers can better focus on instruction - and Principal Darvina Bradley credits her campus cellphone ban.

“What was the biggest shock and surprise for me was we actually had to begin putting out games and things to entertain them at lunch, because they really became kids again,” Bradley said. “We heard conversations occurring again, lunchtime was no longer quiet - it became a real schoolyard with real activity.”