Well, Mustangs, it’s that time of year again. I’d say it’s good to be back, but fortunately, I’m not a liar, so you’ll just be getting a simple welcome from me. I’m not quite sure about you, but I know I didn’t miss the early mornings, the late night study sessions, or the sleep deprivation probably caused by said study sessions(I blame my history classes.)
Anyway, I seem to be getting off topic. My sleep schedule (or lack thereof) isn’t what has the entire student body stewing in a silent rage.
It’s the Phone Trees.
Or rather, the phone policy, but Phone Trees simply sound much more elusive, and I’m nothing if not dramatic.
Now, the phone policy isn’t a new development by any means. They have been around since I was a Freshman, and that was two years ago.
It’s the same old story every year. Once the bell rings, students are required to put their phones in their assigned pocket, and unless given permission by a teacher, cannot collect it until the end of class.
As one myself, I believe students are justified in their hatred. Who wants their personal belongings to be confiscated from them simply for…attending class?
As much as I regret to admit it though, perhaps it’s understandable for teachers to not agree. While I don’t like the fact that my (expensive, mind you) cellular device is confiscated from me for the majority of my day, I can’t deny that the abuse of cell phones in the classroom prior to this policy was becoming something of an issue.
Now, am I saying I agree with the way the administration decided to handle this particular problem?
Not at all.
Confiscating phones in school brings up a whole new set of problems that haven’t been fully addressed—chief among them, the idea that punishing everyone for the actions of a few is unfair. Side note: I can’t take credit for this idea. It actually comes from the Geneva Conventions, which set rules for the humane treatment of civilians and soldiers during World War 2.
I’m not comparing this to a literal world war, but still—when you confiscate phones from all students, you’re reinforcing the idea of punishing the majority for something they didn’t do.
While I’m aware that the abuse of phones in the classroom wasn’t exactly a small scale issue, from what I’ve observed, the more pressing issue is not phone usage, but the constant talking during class, particularly when instruction is taking place. While this behavior is clearly disrespectful, it wouldn’t be reasonable to send the entire class to the dean’s office as punishment. Similarly, implementing a blanket policy that confiscates phones from all students, including those who use them responsibly, sends the wrong message. It suggests that responsible use and self-regulation are not valued, when in reality, these skills are crucial. For upperclassmen who are just a few years away from college, this approach does them a disservice. Instead of assuming they lack the maturity to manage their phone use, we should be helping them develop the self-control and discipline they’ll need in the real world.
My other issue with the phone policy?
I’m trusting the school to keep my phone safe while it’s out of my backpack, but when the teacher and students leave the room for any reason, the phones are left on display, visible through the door windows. While I’m not accusing anyone of theft, I wouldn’t trust random strangers with an expensive device either. Most teachers lock the door when we leave the classroom, but sometimes it’s forgotten. What then? What if a student takes advantage of the chaos during class transitions to grab a phone, hidden by the large crowd of students? Or what if the phones get damaged? That’s not far-fetched—just in the second week of school, the phone tree in one of my classes fell off the wall, sending every phone crashing to the floor. Needless to say, everyone kept their phones with them for the rest of that period.
These are just a few of the reasons why I take issue with the current phone policy. I get that there are different opinions on the matter, and I understand why the policy exists in the first place. But from my perspective, it’s not the best solution. At the end of the day, this is just my take on something that affects all of us.