The Cell Phone Policy, a newly implemented school rule that has caused lots of shifts in the way our education works here in St.Mary’s County. In Leonardtown High School, as with any new thing, there have been mixed feelings about it. Before we go into the arguments, let’s just begin with the facts. The cell phone policy states that everyone should have their phones/ cellular devices as well as anything that connects to them off and put away during school hours or instructional time. If someone breaks the rule, there isn’t any being let off with a warning; you will immediately get it confiscated, and disciplinary action will be put on your record. 

The reason for this change was that educators felt there was an issue with attention. With cell phones being allowed all the time, some students would abuse this ability and not focus on the teacher right in front of them. Now, understandably, not everyone is on their phone all the time, and so some of these students feel this is an unfair “punish all to punish a few” type situation, but with something like cell phones it’s difficult to hone in on just a few problem students.

Now I went out into the halls and classrooms to get the people’s opinions on both sides, some who think it has been beneficial and those who disagree and why?

It’s Been Beneficial:

• “ In the context of the state of the school I think it’s sending us in a positive direction” – 12 grade student ( male )
• “I think it forces us to be more productive and actually get our work done”- 11th grader ( female )
• “I like it cause it’s refreshing, and it generally makes me be on my phone less like all the time” -10th grader     ( female )

It’s Annoying/ Unnecessary

• “I think that there would be some special privileges for some classes where phones are almost necessary and I also think it’s ridiculous that first infraction is a referral” – 10th grader ( female )
• “ I’m not the individual getting distracted and failing because of my phone, so it feels like an unfair situation to me” – 12th grade student ( male )
• “I think they are too strict on the rules. Getting your phone taken when they see you on it for the FIRST TIME is really extreme. I think we should be allowed to go on our phones when all work is done and the teacher decides that.” – 12th grader ( female )

Finally, I took a survey utilizing my very own cell phone and social media and found the results showed:

Total People-57

Like the Cell Phone Policy- 33%

Don’t Like the Cell Phone Policy-67%

After talking with a few of the people who said they didn’t like the cell phone policy it was interesting to discover that most of them understood the reasoning behind it and even found  it somewhat beneficial, but it was the harshness of the punishment and the lack of a warning that often made people feel it was slightly unfair. In addition, some felt that it was one of those things where unruly kids make the situation less favorable to the “good” kids. Those who said they liked the policy appreciated the time they have spent off their phone and have found it useful in their education. They have seemed to have felt the main benefits and good repercussions of the policy.

All in all, it is still safe to say that with this technologically savvy generation the cell phone policy hasn’t exactly been a welcome change, but some are warming up to it and some just have some things that they would adjust about the policy without completely demolishing it.