Just in time for the start of the 2024-25 school year, at least 13 U.S. states, including Pennsylvania, have passed laws or policies restricting phone usage in schools. Pennsylvania allocated millions of dollars for schools to purchase lockable containers for student phones. These policies were created with the intention of reducing student distraction due to social media, texting, and mobile gaming, which, according to the Pew Research Center, 72% of teachers found to be a persistent problem in the classroom. However, these bans are not unanimously popular: 70% of parents of school-aged children supported a partial ban on cell phones, though most believe that students should be allowed to use phones during breaks, lunch, and recess times, according to the New York Times. These 18 Friends Select high school students weighed in on FSS’ approach to cell phone restriction.
Sam Goldwert ‘25 – The concept makes sense to me; I agree that phones can be a distraction in class if used improperly. However, as a senior, it personally feels a bit condescending to have to walk to the front of the room and place my phone into a box under the assumption that I wouldn’t be able to control myself if my phone were in my backpack. I also seem to be constantly returning to teachers’ classrooms an hour or so later after realizing that I forgot to collect my phone (once even needing to return to school after leaving for the day), and on some occasions, my phone has been taken by other students who mistook my phone for theirs. I might prefer if students were permitted to keep their phones in a closed pocket or in their backpacks, with the possibility of it being confiscated if used inappropriately.
Daphne Klose ‘25 – The policy isn’t very enforced by most teachers, some are much more lenient than others. I’ve found that my friends enforce the rule more than the teachers, they’ll put their phones in the bin and just watch me until I do the same. Personally I think it does help me focus more, but I tend to forget to take it out after class ends; that’s really my only issue with the rule.
Serena Krouk ‘28 – As a freshman, this new policy has not yet affected us. As class officers, we recently submitted our phone petition after we were accepted to have our phones. I think honoring this new policy will help us focus on our studies.
Calliope Crawford-Blaine ‘28 – I honestly don’t feel very strongly about this whole phone thing. I think it could have been more successful, and our grade could have been better behaved, but contrary to prior belief, we don’t need our phones to survive. However, phones are important in case of emergency during something like building leave
Maddie Orr ‘28 – I don’t love that we can’t have our phones, but I understand that we need to keep them away so we can focus on class. I also don’t think that this policy is actually enforced that much by most teachers. Many teachers tend to ignore you if you bring out your phones and use them during break times. The teacher who seems to enforce the rule the most is Norman. I have seen him take phones from kids during school and I think he would happily do that again. The Philadelphia school district allows students to carry phones in bags or pockets. The only rule is that they can’t use them during instructional times, but they are allowed to use them during breaks and any other times. I think we should be able to have phones with us during the day because I don’t think during class they provide any other issues. We have other things that our grade could work on but I don’t think they are an issue.
Joely Kaplan ‘28 – As a freshman, the phone policy hasn’t impacted me yet. Since we didn’t have phones in middle school, I haven’t really been annoyed with having phones. I do understand why we would have to put them in the phone holders when we get our phones. It is annoying that, as freshmen, we can’t have our phones until we petition. We tried to petition but didn’t get our phones.
Alice Zhang ’25 – I don’t mind this new phone policy because it helps to keep the distraction away from myself during class; also, I don’t usually think of using my phone in classes because I have a lot of other things to do. Sometimes the teachers put name tags on the phone pockets and make that our attendance.
Ozzy Spiker ‘25 – The new phone policy has not been limiting or restricting this year. Since last year, teachers have started to enforce the rule less, meaning that in many classes students are allowed to keep their phones with them. Having our phones can occasionally be distracting but for a majority of classes, it causes no harm. Being able to use some features like the calculator is also useful in science classes to simplify complex math.
Carl Heyne ‘27 – This policy is more of an annoyance with the extra steps added to getting to work. I forget my phone occasionally but I’m pretty good at remembering. Honestly, I understand why the policy was put in place, but it gets a bit annoying.
Anna Masino ‘27 – I’m fine with the new phone policy. It doesn’t feel like anything’s changed since most teachers don’t enforce it. They either forget to collect phones at the beginning of class or don’t check the phone holders. Even if students don’t put their phones in the phone holders, they usually leave them in their bags and don’t use them during class, so I don’t think that phones are an issue.
Grace Salmon ‘27 – I like the new phone policy and think that it creates a better space for learning if you don’t have your phones on you. But I still don’t think that it is enforced enough by the teachers, and students often don’t put their phones away even when reminded by teachers. Although most students are responsible with their phones in class, sometimes I do see people on their phones which could be prevented if teachers collected phones. I also just enjoy learning and hanging out without the distraction of phones!
Susanna Harries ‘28 – Since I’m a freshman, I’m new to the idea of having phones in school, so I don’t really have a strong opinion about the policy. I had assumed it was already in place when I got here, but I can see how it might frustrate people. I personally do not really care whether we get our phones or not. I’d rather have building leave than phone privileges.
Abby Davenport ‘27 – Despite the minor inconvenience, I understand the purpose of the phone policy and have no reason not to comply. I’ve forgotten my phone in the classroom a few times, but that’s my fault, not that of the phone policy. In the case of emergencies, students can hear their phones ring from the box or pocket rather than in lockers. I believe that it comes down to personal responsibility regarding phone use and that individual students should be held to a standard of accountability, as well as exhibiting discipline and maturity personally and among peers. It’s important to note that I am new this year, but coming from a school with an identical phone use policy.
Leah Pessin ‘27 – I don’t feel that much of a difference in the new phone policy. To be honest, most teachers don’t enforce it, and the ones that do still often forget. Most students just leave their phones in their bags and don’t take them out for fear of being caught, so the rule still keeps students off their phones. My personal issue with it is that I forget my phone in my pocket, so I just leave my phone in my locker, which most teachers don’t mind. I like that my peers aren’t on their phones all the time!
Cole Semel ‘25 – There hasn’t been much of a difference to me in terms of the new phone policy. Only 1-2 of my teachers enforce the rules heavily, while the others normally allow us to keep our phones in our bags or pocket. Even though it is considered a mandatory policy, it does not seem that way, so if the school wants to really enforce it, all teachers have to follow it strictly. For me though, if people don’t go on their phones during class and leave them in their bags, there shouldn’t be an issue.
Duc Tran ‘‘26 – I think there was not much difference at my last school because we needed to focus on our class, and it made me easily do work. I can check my phone after class. During the school day, I don’t use it much, I just use it for music and to message my parents.
Jessica Li ‘27 – There isn’t much of a difference to me. Most of the teachers don’t enforce it. I /think it is a good policy if students are distracted by their phones, but most of the time I think putting phones in backpacks is fine.
Sophia Le ‘25 – It has become a habit for me to put my phone into the bin or holder at the start of every class. I do not usually like being on my phone unless I plan to “doom-scroll” for an hour or so. Generally at school, I don’t usually use my phone other than asking where my friends are or checking my schedule. Similarly, in class I don’t have much use for my phone. Overall, I am rather indifferent to the phone policy.
Sources:
https://www.newsweek.com/do-not-disturb-mobile-phone-ban-american-schools-1953348
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/11/technology/school-phone-bans-indiana-louisiana.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/03/podcasts/the-daily/phone-ban-school.html?searchResultPosition=21
