Sydney to the Max

Mr. Tanaka: And in 1871,

Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicked over a lantern

and started the Great Chicago Fire,

destroying the entire city.

- (phone chiming) - Oops.

Sorry. So, so sorry.

Okay, where was I? Um...

Cow. Fire. Go.

- (phone chimes) - Ms. Rozalski,

what could possibly be more important

than the tragic destruction of one of our greatest cities?

"Chimichangas for lunch today."

They run out if you don't get there right away,

which let me tell you, is pretty tragic.

- (phone chimes) - Now what?

"Can you believe he read Olive's texts?"

You know what? This a perfect time

for you to hear about our new phone policy.

- What new policy? - I'll tell you.

Whoa! Vice Principal Virmani.

Where'd he come from?

It's my job to be everywhere.

Let me introduce you to the phone pouch.

You put your phone in here in the morning, lock it,

and at the end of the day, we open it for you.

- (gasps, murmurs) - Wait. All day?

We won't be able to use our phones for the whole day?

This is the worst disaster ever!

Seriously?

This can't be legal.

I'm going to talk to my mom.

She's a lawyer and on the Parent School Committee.

Actually, it was your mom's idea.

That sounds about right.

In fact, the Parent School Committee

is voting to approve funds tonight.

And trust me, it gives me no joy taking things from students.

Well, I'm off to tell the next class!

Here you go.

Enjoy them while you can.

Guys, what are we gonna do?

People say you can live without your phone,

but has it ever been proven?

Don't worry. My dad's on the Parent School Committee.

I'm sure I can convince him to vote against it.

- (phone chimes) - Guys.

More bad news.

They're almost out of chimichangas!

Dad, Dad! You've got to do something.

Can I do something after my chip and dip hour?

I was just about to dip my chip.

No, the school wants to take away our phones.

For the whole day!

Well, that does seem pretty drastic.

Right? It's a total overreaction.

I mean, if I'm late to class,

I get detention. I don't get expelled.

Have you been late to class?

Dad, I said "If."

Seriously, Tiff, that dress was straight fire.

Hey, whatever's going on here, I'm on Syd's side.

They're trying to ban cell phones at school.

What? I would never let anyone take my phone.

I use it for all sorts of important stuff at school.

Exactly. I manage my schedule, take notes,

take pictures of my assignments on the board.

Find out if campus police are breaking up the party I'm heading to.

Not helping, Grandma.

Gotcha, Noodle.

Hey, Tiff, I found out hottie Officer Kurt might be working tonight.

Would you go dress or jeans for questioning?

I agree. Your phone should not be taken away.

Your grandmother's should.

In that case, maybe you could say something tonight at the meeting.

I'd be happy to. This phone ban is completely unreasonable.

Really? Thank you.

Of course Syd, I'm always looking out for you.

You just won Dad Of The Year.

It was only one vote, but it was a landslide.

Well, I better get prepared for my speech.

And don't worry, I'm not gonna "phone it in."

Yeah, get that all out now.

What's going on here?

Hello, Vice Principal Virmani.

Leo Webb. You remember me.

I worked in the office for two weeks and...

brightened every morning with a song.

I don't know, a lot of kids come through there.

So Mr. Reynolds, I'm sure you're aware

of our new zero-tolerance policy

on riding skateboards at school.

Hand it over.

I wasn't riding.

I was just holding it.

You skateboarders.

You think the rules don't apply to you.

You go around jumping curbs, hopping benches.

Saying words like "tubular."

Mr. Virmani,

Max happens to be a very good friend of mine,

and if he says...

I'm out.

Mr. Reynolds, I'm waiting.

You'll get this back when you learn your lesson.

- What does that mean? - Let's not be coy.

What does that mean?

Sorry, Max. I tried.

And to think I sang for that man.

And in conclusion, if we want our kids

to learn self-control with their phones,

we should teach them.

Not take away the very thing we want them

to learn control over!

Wow, he nailed it.

Hey, I just gave him the idea.

He made it soar.

- What about the table pound? - All him.

Thank you, Max. Excellent points.

But are you aware of the recent studies

that show cell phone usage in school

can lead to a five percent drop in test scores?

I did not know that.

Are you also aware that when they took away phones

at a school in England, the lack of distractions

was equal to an extra week of schooling?

I did not know that either.

I'd like to call on Mr. Tanaka

to give us the teacher's perspective on this issue.

All: Oh no.

Mr. Tanaka, have phones posed a problem in your classroom?

Are you kidding?

Just this morning, I had to take phones from three students,

all because of chimichangas.

I move we vote.

All those in favor of funding the phone pouches

for the school, raise your hand.

Don't worry, guys. Sophia's mom made a strong case.

But so did my dad.

All those opposed?

Well, it's two votes for and two against.

Looks like it's all up to you, Max.

Uh...

Can I abstain?

Yea, or nay, Max?

All (whispering): Nay. Nay. Nay!

Ye...

N-N-N...

Max.

Yea. I support the phone ban.

- (murmuring) - What?

I don't know why Professor Johnson got so salty.

All I said was a man bun over a bald spot

just doesn't work.

I can't believe you caved at that meeting.

Syd, I did not cave.

I have no idea what's going on,

but Syd's making some very good points.

I'll catch you up.

I'm right, he's wrong.

Look, I listened to the arguments

the other parents made about phones in school

and they made a lot of sense to me.

But you're the one who has to give up your phone.

And the students didn't even get a voice in this.

Besides, what happened to looking out for me?

Syd, as a parent, sometimes looking out for you

means making choices that are good for you,

even though you may not like them.

Well, I don't.

This is so unfair.

Okay.

Now I get what you guys were arguing about.

Still on Syd's side.

Where have you been?

I've been driving around the neighborhood looking for you.

I got a lot done, but I was still worried.

I had to walk home from school!

The vice principal took my skateboard!

- What did you do? - Nothing this time.

I was just holding it. I wasn't even riding it.

He's telling the truth, Judy.

- Can I call you Judy? - Never.

Look Max, if he took away your skateboard,

he must have had a good reason.

But he didn't.

And now I may never get my board back.

I'm sorry Max, but that man did me a favor taking your skateboard.

He saved me from having to accidentally back over it with the car.

That's it. We're sneaking into Virmani's office

and getting my board back.

He's left me no choice.

What are you doing?

Practicing for detention.

And after the Chicago fire,

the city was rebuilt in three short years.

Wow.

I just got through a whole class without one phone going off.

Look at me now, Mom.

I can't stand this. My phone just vibrated.

Is it a text? Is it a call?