At Mark Twain Middle School, in the US state of Virginia, students are banned from using their phones as part of a trial aimed at improving focus and learning. The school's principal says he thinks the policy eliminates distractions, enhances academic performance, and reduces negative social behaviors. However, students have mixed opinions. "It actually impacted me a lot because I started to focus on my work more," says eighth grader La'Nae Dorsey, as her twin sister, Ja'Nae Dorsey, nods in agreement. But seventh grader Hayden Jones is skeptical, saying the ban "doesn't change anything" for him. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES ARRANGED IN SEQUENCES