I was intrigued (and relieved) to read about a high school principal who makes students place their smartphones in a lock-bag for the school day. Tensions are down and grades are up. This commonsense solution to the blight of phones in the classroom is a good example of how technology outruns us until we understand it well enough to take advantage of it while holding its worst aspects at bay. This short commentary looks at the constant battle to keep up. I hope you’ll listen.