You may have heard about the new phone policy that is taking effect this year. It’s a zero-tolerance policy that takes effect the moment you step onto school grounds. There has been some controversy among the student body surrounding it and the effect it has. To gain insight, I have interviewed students across different grade levels to gather their perspectives.
First, I talked to an elementary school student, Parker Rossi, who is in fifth grade, and asked for his view.
What is your perspective on the new phone policy?
“I don’t like it.”
Do you find the new policy to be more positive or more negative?
“Positive”
Do you feel more focused at school with the policy in place?
“Sort of.”
Do you think the policy should be changed at all?
“A little, I think you should be allowed to use it as a resource and at lunch."
Parker seems to understand that, overall, the phone policy is beneficial, but is upset at the lack of access to them during break times.
The next student I talked with was a middle schooler, Yamilette Guitron, who is in 8th grade. Here's what she had to say.
What is your perspective on the new phone policy?
“It's fine, I think it's helping me focus during school, but I think that it is too strict, like if we have our phones out before or after school, we get it taken away, and I also think that we should be able to have it during lunch because some people don’t have anything to do during lunch.”
Do you find the new policy to be more positive or more negative?
"Positive, it helps students concentrate.”
Do you feel more focused at school with the policy in place?
“Yeah, it’s kind of the same as last year's, though, I don’t think it makes a big difference.”
Do you think the policy should be changed at all?
“Maybe when it comes to like lunch time, we should be allowed to have it. I think they should be less strict, like if teachers see it in a side pocket of your backpack, they still take it away, or hear a notification, they still take it away.”
The objective of the phone policy seems to be working, keeping kids focused on work while in school, but the students all around seem to want a little leeway.
Lastly, I interviewed Georgia Reser, a 10th-grade student, to see her views on the policy.
What is your perspective on the new phone policy?
“They should find a way to get a way to get guns out of schools and make students feel less scared at school before we take phones. I also think that they should let us have it at lunch.”
Do you find the new policy to be more positive or more negative?
“I think it's more positive, it leads to more conversations and connections, but also could cause more confrontational bullying instead of cyberbullying. I would rather be cyberbullied than bullied at school.”
Do you feel more focused at school with the policy in place?
“It’s not any different for me because I never have my phone out at school.”
Do you think the policy should be changed at all?
“I think we should be allowed to have it during lunch or before school, but other than that, I think it's good to crack down on them about phones because it upsets me when other people are on their phones during class.”
There seems to be a theme with students across grade levels; they acknowledge that the phone policy is for the better, but are still displeased. Students feel that the policy is strict and would like to be allowed to have it during break times. I do believe allowing students to use their devices at lunch would be a good compromise, as it allows students a break halfway through the day and students feel heard, while still maintaining the purpose of the policy which is to have less distractions in the classroom.
--- Karmain Pollan