By Jack Walton and Lola Mancari, 10th Grade
Smart phones have become an essential part of our everyday lives. They are needed for emergencies, but they are also useful for shopping, paying bills, scheduling events, photography, setting alarms, and playing games. They have become integral to everything we do, so it is not surprising that many families feel it is a good idea for the kids to have phones as well. While availability of these new tools seems to be an obvious advancement, there are growing concerns that phones may actually interfere with a child’s education.
As powerful a tool as it is, a smart phone can be quite a distraction. Despite being a resource, anything that compromises a student’s attention is not helpful. In fact, one study conducted by The London School of Economics reported that some kids without cell phones performed better on exams. At the extreme end, addiction to social media and cyberbullying have become real and unacceptable issues to contend with. Schools are now challenged with finding a fair-and-balanced approach to controlling phones in class. Current rules at WRHS are strict: if a student is found to have a phone in their possession, whether or not in use, they may be reprimanded. Fortunately, a product called a Yondr Pouch has been introduced which can be used to “lock up” a phone during school hours (“bell-to-bell”). What troubles some students is that, in contrast, their teachers do not seem to operate under the same restrictions because teachers may have their phones on and handy throughout the day.
Both Dean of Students Jared Shannon and Vice Principal Stephen Messina feel the current rules are absolutely necessary. They believe phones pose a distraction for students from lessons, just as they pose a distraction for adults during meetings. Having banned phones, they each have observed what they feel to be significantly increased interest on the part of students in school and in communication with fellow students. In addition, Mr. Messina shared that “students have said that they feel they can focus better without having access to [them].” When asked if a student can communicate with a family member during an emergency, Mr. Shannon confirmed that students always have the ability to contact their parents through the school, which facilitates access to first responders if ever needed.
