Across New York State, students of all ages this school year are facing a new challenge. Not homework, not tests, but… cell phones.
Starting in September of this year, New York State began to require bell to bell no phone policies to create “phone free schools” for grades K-12. Districts were advised to come up with a plan that works best for their buildings.
The policy bans students from using cellphones, airpods, smart watches, personal laptops and any other electronic device that is not school issued. At East Islip High School, students are advised to keep them in lockers and out of sight of teachers and other staff. If students get caught with their phones out, they are given a warning and are written up on their next offense. This can also later lead to detention.
In other schools, like the district of Lackawanna, located in Erie County, New York, Administrators have implemented the use of Yondr pouches which lock students’ phones in the bag for the entire school day.
Now a month and a half after the start of the new school year, this has become more routine, but many teachers and students still feel very passionately about this issue.
“I’ve been getting more work done without using my phone during the day,” Madison Kearney, a junior at East Islip High School said.
Additionally, English teacher Mrs. Hirsch believes students have become less distracted and hopes they feel less stressed out from the constant need to check phones and see what is going on.
However, other students feel differently. Sophomores Nora Mooney and Theresa Codispoti both feel negatively about this issue. They think more students don’t have something the more they will want it and they feel it is necessary to have phones during certain occasions.
“It’s awkward not to have my phone out when I’ve finished my work,” Junior Olivia LaBella said. “It just feels weird sitting there.”
Overall, it’s clear that phones can be distracting in school and this policy might be helping, but maybe there’s room for compromise. One idea is to allow phone use outside of instructional time, like during lunch and study halls. Some would even lobby for having phones when they have finished their work during class.
Well see what happens in the years to come and maybe some accommodations will be made, but for now students will have to get used to East Islip being a phone free school.
