Because of the recent Texas law, House Bill 1481, eliminating personal communication devices including cell phones and smart watches, students were banned from using them throughout the school day. 

“I used my phone a lot throughout the day,” junior Judith Muteba said. “Being on my phone kept me busy. Now I can be bored sometimes because I don’t have it.” 

From the first bell of the early morning at 7:25 a.m., all the way until the last bell of the day at 2:55 p.m., the only device students could use were school-issued Chromebooks. 

 “It’s been weird because I’ve been able to use my phone every year in school and even to do assignments,” senior Ifeoluwa Mafinuyomi said. “It sucks because it’s my senior year and phones were taken away.”

Items, including headphones, were confiscated by the school. 

“I liked to have my phone throughout the day so I could listen to my rap music,” junior Brailyn Stovall said. “Now I just walk through the halls silently in my thoughts.” 

After the first offence the device was confiscated and the parent or guardian contacted. The phone was available for pick up at the end of the school day. After the second offence, the student served a day of ISS, as well as losing exemptions for the semester’s exam. The final offence was 30 days of DAEP.

“Getting my phone taken for the first time caught me off guard,” Mafinuyomi said. “Ever since I heard about the consequences for the second offence, I’ve made sure my phone is up now.” 

Students and teachers had to learn to adapt lessons and ways of teaching. Things like viewing schedules, texting their parents in emergencies, or even interviewing people for assignments has all changed. 

“Last year in my yearbook class we used our phones for interviews,” senior Emanuel Ogunnaike said. “This year though, we had to order recorders online. We have had to rework the way we do things.” 

Students spent their extra time talking to one another, working on homework or playing card games.

Stovall said, “I don’t like the policy but I’ve used my Chromebook more and made some new friends in class.”