Student phone usage has become a pressing concern to schools all around the world. With the standard for every person to have a device on them at all times, a question has surfaced: how has student education and mental health faltered, if at all? South will soon set a new policy in place to fight against rising levels of phone usage. Here, we will review the purpose of combating phone usage, the specific rules to be set in stone, and what various teachers think of phones and student’s overuse of them.

The new policy will set restrictions over all personal electronic devices, abbreviated as PEDs, which will include phones, bluetooth devices (such as Airpods), Smartwatches, etc. Teachers will either be required to utilize a “cell hotel” in their classrooms or have a clear plan to discourage PED usage. Upon multiple violations of the policy or refusal to put a device away, further action may be taken to combat the issue. The goal of this policy is to encourage more student participation and comprehension of subjects.

Scott Zarnegar, who teaches chemistry, weighed in on the impact that stricter rules will have on students.

“I think it’s kinda healthy to be away from your phone for a little bit,” Zarnegar said. “I think it will lead to students being more present in the classroom and more willing to socialize with neighbors, and be [present] instead of hunched over staring at their phone while the world spins around them.”

Zarnegar believes that the constant feedback that phones provide to students leads to poor mental health.

“Constant contact with other people can have really weird effects on you. It can take away from your own development as an individual,” Zarnegar said. “It kind of creates a herd mentality, in a way.”

Many teachers appear to have a similar sentiment around the addiction that many students have with their phones.

IHS teacher Julia Von Holt said, “Overall, I think kids’ brain wiring has changed. I’ve noticed that my ability to pay attention to things [has changed], even in the past ten to twenty years.”

Although hints at the fresh policy do not imply this, some are worried that students may have their phone removed from their person for overusing them. This could be a cause for concern for parents, as they wish to remain in contact with their children in case of emergency. Science teacher Julia Harvey relates to this worry.

“As a parent, I would want my kids to have their phones in their backpacks,” said Harvey.

There are a variety of reasons why students tend to gravitate towards social media.

“You’re waiting for class to start… and you’re like, ‘what am I gonna put my attention on?,’” Zarnegar said. “So, a lot of students take out their phones.”

Despite being implemented over the entire student body, Zarnegar believes that the policy will only have a heavy impact on certain students.

“Most students are pretty good about their phone, but there’s some chronic phone addicts that can’t seem to put it down,” he said. “This is the kind of situation where some kids… make every kid fall into some kind of rule like this.”

Overall, teachers seem to be optimistic about the change that this new policy will bring. With increased student engagement and more creativity, Von Holt encourages students to have faith in the process, and that everything will turn out well in the end.

“I know it’s hard to trust adults when they say this is gonna be worth it,” Von Holt said. “That’s what we’ve got right now. You gotta trust us, it’ll be worth it.”  

Article by Rainier Cem