By: Macey Boyce ’28
As we have all experienced, the cell phone policy has impacted everyone this year. Both St. Paul’s School for Boys and St. Paul’s School for Girls students are required to “dock” their phones in advisory cubbies every morning. In doing so, students are not allowed to use or have their phones at all throughout the school day. This policy has provoked many new opinions. Students all over campus are experiencing the policy in different ways.
One positive result of the policy, said one 10th grade SPUS student who wished to remain anonymous, is that he has started to hang out more with his friends during school. They play games, interactive card and board games with his friends. He mentioned more people playing ping pong and hanging out with friends during free time rather than on their phones. Some students watch TV, even though it’s online. They’re doing it together, which is the most important part, he said.
However, with benefits, comes contradiction. The SPUS student mentioned the irritating aspects as well, he wishes he could talk with his friends online again. With the removal of phones, students can’t play the online games their used to, they can’t easily text with one another. The simple process of finding your friend became a little bit more complicated. Overall, the student’s opinion on the matter leaves him feeling irritated. The policy has its reasons, but its purpose has not yet fully been fulfilled. Lacking many needed steps, the cell phone policy has been found to just be tiresome.
Besides students, Ms. Broadnax, a Digital Arts Boys School teacher, says she tends to see the new policy as mostly a positive thing. She has noticed more students being actively engaged and focused on class. Ms. Broadnax also mentioned the easier process of managing her classroom. But she did say that students not being able to use their phones means they have less access to editing apps and privileges students previously had. She stated how she had to change her curriculum about film editing since the cell phone policy came into effect. Students couldn’t access their phones to take videos and photos needed for the lesson.
Overall, the policy has been appreciated across our campus, allowing for more social interaction and engagement, however the negatives are still existent. Among teachers and students, the new policy continues to linger in our thoughts. Will it eventually mean students will not miss their phones as much? Will teachers change their curriculum to not rely on phones as much? These questions remain unanswered. Only time will tell.
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