Phones in school are a controversial topic throughout the country, as more schools are looking to cut back or even eliminate student phone use. While students often say phones are the best way to stay in touch with friends and to keep themselves entertained, more educators warn that phones may be obstructing people’s minds, and putting a phone in the hands of a teenager makes it that much worse.
In 2023, the LFHS administration announced that phones would be stored away during class. Assistant Principal of Student Operations Mr. Frank Lesniak said the policy is fair.
“I think the cell phone helps students focus more during class. Accessing the phone during class is just not necessary unless the phone is part of the curriculum or activity. At this point, there is no change to the cell phone procedures planned,” Assistant Principal of Student Operations Mr. Frank Lesniak said.
While most students understand the need for a cell phone policy, ours just goes too far. This past semester, unfortunately, has felt more strict than ever.
For one, preventing students from using their phones when waiting for other people to finish their test is unnecessary. I don’t see the issue with being on my phone when there is no other school work or after you finish your work early. In these cases, I think the policy should be flexible and teachers should back off and let us use our extra time how we would like.
Upperclassmen, in particular, don’t need heavy restrictions on phones. If they are using their phones appropriately and not distracting anyone, there should not be an issue.
I know that I get bored sometimes in class and find myself thinking about the fun things I could entertain myself with on my phone. If this is the case, then maybe the physical phone is not the issue but instead our need to be entertainment that feeds into the addiction?
Maybe we should push for more interactive activities that could be beneficial to everyone, both teachers and students.
For example, I know I always look forward to when my teacher plans an activity in class for all the students to participate in or individual work time where students can either work on their work for that class or work on assignments for other classes when they finish. I don’t feel the need to go on my phone when doing certain activities like these.
Although it would be impossible to come up with a clear solution to regulate phones so kids can still effectively learn and not constantly be thinking about phones, without completely banning them, we can still try.
Because the current ongoing policy is too strict.
