It is the start of a new school year and students at OH are again constantly reminded to stay off their phones throughout the school day. Is this a request from the teachers or from the school itself?
During an interview, first-year Consumer Education teacher Lucas Frauenhoff said, “There is no set policy here at OH, which I was a little surprised by when I found out that they leave it up to the individual teachers. The dean talks at the beginning of the year encouraging students to not be on their phones.”
Most teachers are strict about their rules on cell phones, This is not only in OH. Schools all over the country are banning phones on school grounds.
According to an article from k-12dive, “The National Center for Education Statistics reported that 77% of schools prohibited non-academic use of cell phones during 2019-20.”
Most teachers feel strongly about phones in their classrooms but what do the OH students think about this debate?
OH junior Sanai Griffin said, “I feel as if phones in class are fine. I don’t think we should put them in a phone locker or have them taken away even if they’re a distraction because God forbid something were to happen and we go into a lockdown, and people can’t text or call their parents.I think that we should be able to keep our property and not have it taken away.”
However, not all teachers at OH are have a strict phone policy.
Griffin stated when asked about her teachers’ rules on phones in class,“Most of my teachers are lenient and don’t necessarily care too much,” So at OH, cell phones are not one of the biggest issues. But what about students at OE, how do they feel about this topic and what are the rules at their school?
OH junior Priscilla Olivas said, “I feel like it’s stupid because lots of people need to play music to concentrate in class or they just need reassurance to know that their phone is by them.”
Regarding OE’s cell phone practices, Olivas said, “We are told to put them in our backpacks or in a slot that the teacher provides us.”
Both Griffin and Olivas are concerned about the safety and well-being of the students in case of various kinds of emergencies or just for students who have more of a difficult time focusing and use music as a resource.
Teachers will continue to tell students to put their phones away and pay attention to their eyes. It’s out of respect and for the student’s best interest, but a student may not think that way.
Phones are given at a young age and are easily accessible. It’s hard to take away a screen that has been in someone’s face their whole life. But in the end, It’s up to the students themselves to make that choice.
Phones in class will continue as an ongoing debate in school districts all over the country. Unfortunately, there’s no solution on which everyone agrees.
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