Upon returning to classes at Southern Lehigh High School this year, students noticed what felt like a drastic change in procedure. Students must now put their phones in caddies, not only during classes, but also during the Spartan activity period, and even homeroom.
Principal Mr. Joshua Miller said this enforcement of the cell phone policy is to, “help students manage and work through” their phone addictions and limit “social media issues and cyber-bullying.”
Mr. Miller said that most of these rules were in place before, but not consistently enforced. With their enforcement, he is already seeing results.
“Students are taking more time at lunch to actually be social and have conversations at tables and not be on their phones,” Mr. Miller said. He’s also “seen an uptick in student work completion.”
Teachers seem to be happy with the improvements in behavior and work completion thus far. High school business teacher Mr. Michael Anthony admits he was not always an advocate for the phone policy as he thought students should learn to manage their distractions to prepare them for the real world. As he’s seen the policy in action, he has grown fond of it.
“Students are paying attention more, they’re less distracted, they’re more into the school work, they’re participating more,” Mr. Anthony said. “It’s just amazing the difference it’s already proven in the classrooms.”
According to doctors at New York Presbyterian Hospital and Magnet ABA Therapy, the average daily screentime is six hours and 40 minutes, while the daily average sleep duration is six to seven hours: we spend nearly as much time on our phones as we do sleeping.
Statistics show that electronics take time away from academics, home responsibilities, and productivity; other negative effects include the blue light’s harm on our eyes and circadian rhythms, as well as an increased need for instant gratification. With statistics like these, schools around the country are trying to stay proactive.
Students have mixed reactions on the matter.
“I didn’t feel that the phone policy would make a difference,” senior Chase Benner said. “Overall it’s our education and we need to learn to be independent and how to make use of our time.”
“I thought the idea would help me get my work done in class,” sophomore Kate Jellison said, “but I felt that not being allowed to use it when going outside the classroom to the nurse or the office was kind of pointless.”
These differing perspectives highlight an ongoing debate concerning the new policy. Implementing these restrictions in the hallways, bathrooms, the nurse’s office, counseling office, and main office helps to ensure student privacy and prevent cyberbullying by eliminating opportunities to take photos and videos without permission.
“We can help just eliminate that urge [to grab your phone] or that availability to grab it when you shouldn’t have it, it can hopefully reduce some of the issues,” said Principal Miller.
For students, these changes may seem daunting; however, the intention of the policy is to support a positive learning environment. The school administration hopes that limiting student phone use will not simply improve academic performance but help students to be more engaged both in and out of the classroom.
“I don’t mind the phone policy now,” Jellison said, “and I find myself thinking about my phone less.”
