Since the start of the school year, teachers and administrators have been cracking down on phone usage during the school day. The policy is most enforced during the free period, but students often receive stern warnings or have their phones confiscated during lunch. Although the policy is bound to be unpopular among students, it has shown signs of being beneficial. There has been a noticeable increase in the amount of school work being completed during resource periods and a decrease in using Brawl Stars or Instagram. 

Despite the good intentions of teachers and administrators, the policy can come off as too aggressive in certain situations. For some students, the idea of having their phone taken until the end of the day has been difficult to stomach, but ultimately, this fear is a good direction of where your attention should be going. 

“It’s super annoying not being able to check my phone in between classes because I might need to check for my next class or do homework on it,” says Sophomore Jake Oenning.

The phone policy is harsh to some, but there are mixed opinions. 

“It’s annoying not being able to respond to people, but I completely understand,” says Junior Israel Beyene. 

There are also some benefits to this new policy. “I think it’s good because I’ve felt that I’ve done more work than I would’ve if I had my phone,” says Junior Leo Mercado.

Some of our teachers have also formed opinions on it such as Dr. Michael Campos.  

“This is not an attempt to limit but an attempt to expand the opportunities of human engagement,” says Dr. Campos. It’s not that the school is trying to be irritating, but that they are trying to live up to their values. This quote highlights that the new phone policy can be beneficial because it promotes face-to-face engagement between others and builds a greater sense of community. 

While it may be irritating for students to have to hide your phone like it is contraband, the teachers and administrators who are told to enforce this policy, as well as the school board that made the policy, have good intentions. But at the end of the day, it’s just what you make of it.