Midstate schools grapple with newest craze: fidget spinners

(Harrisburg) — The latest challenge for some midstate school districts is fidget spinners.

The toy — which is the newest craze — raises questions about how to manage classrooms.

Fidget spinners are most popular among middle schoolers.

Prices have risen online, and some retailers say it can be difficult to keep them in stock.

You thread your finger through the spinner, and then use another finger to spin it around.

They’re pretty quiet, but in a classroom full of students, not so much.

In the Hempfield School District in Lancaster County, they only allow a student to use a fidget spinner if they’ve been approved by a staff member beforehand – according to Ian Daecher, assistant principal at Centerville Middle School.

“It’s been pretty simple to follow. Teachers really appreciated us just reminding students about our policy. Fads are fads, you get the puddy fad. I guess if you want to call it a fad, but for students who need it, they need it and we’re going to make sure they have it to help them stay focused,” says Daecher.

Daecher says teachers first brought the issue to him a couple of months ago, and since then, some students have been allowed to use fidget spinners in school.

“Our teachers do a great job, our guidance counselors are great. We have a pretty locked down policy, and it’s been able to be used and effective for kids, the teachers, everybody,” he adds.

He says he’s talked with people at other districts who are still trying to figure out how to best accommodate anxious students who can benefit by using fidget spinners, without distracting others.