After the district implemented a new policy regarding cell phone use, students are trying to navigate their days in the classrooms without access to their devices
“The policy will probably remain in place for years,” senior Katie Martin said. “I feel students have no say, no matter how many people go against it, students have no say in anything.”
The policy reads campus administrators will maintain a cell phone-free environment under the Personal Electronic Communications Guidelines. Violations of guidelines will result in disciplinary action.
“Honestly, it’s kind of nice, at times, not to have to control and police cell phones,” art teacher Dallas Williams said. “And if they’re irresponsible with their phone or any device, that’s something they need to learn.”
Most teachers have students keep their phones in their backpacks. However, a few teachers have decided to collect phones at the beginning of class in buckets while others use hanging calculator holders.
“In my English class, we go in and immediately put our phones in the phone holder on the wall,” sophomore Sophia Vidales said. “We don’t interact with it at all.”
According to the policy, the phone is confiscated, a referral is written and a parent is contacted on the first offense. After the second offense, the student will have to pay a fee of $15 to retrieve their phone.
“The fine is excessive because I’m not paying $15 for something I own,” Martin said. “But it’s really a lose-lose situation because I’ll get written up if I don’t give it to them.”
If students refuse to give up their phones, teachers write a referral for insubordination.
“Teachers can try to enforce the policy but if a student doesn’t want to listen then they’re not going to listen,” Martin said. “There isn’t much a teacher can do in that situation.”
After years of moving classes onto Canvas and integrating technology into the classroom, the adjustment has been perplexing for some students.
“I understand when teachers are teaching we don’t need our phones,” Vidales said. “However, most of our assignments are online in Canvas, yet we can’t use our phones.”
Despite phones not being permitted for use during classroom hours, they are allowed before school, during passing periods and lunches.
“Sometimes I see classmates on their phones because they find it hard to wait until lunch,” Vidales said. “Now they have nothing else to do in class once they are done with assignments.”
