Over 50% chance you’re reading this on your phone—guarantee. If you’re not, wouldn’t it be so much easier if you were? I mean, that’s what a phone is: a smaller, portable version of a computer.
So why are we banning them here on campus?
The ban—although we are a private institution and therefore not subject to the ban—comes from Governor Hochul’s statewide policy that prohibits cellphone use during the school day. Although well-intentioned, I find multiple issues with the current phone situation at Friends Academy to be both pressing and, thankfully, easily fixable.
Out of Time
Recently, a peer of mine was late to class, and in an effort to ensure promptness, checked their phone to tell the time while in the hallways. With all the best intentions, this student was caught violating the cellphone ban and had their device confiscated. In an effort to be considerate and on time, this peer found themselves with an entry into the cellphone tracker and a report for poor behavior. How is that fair?
“Learn how to read a clock.” Not to brag, but I assure you, I most definitely can read a clock. Unfortunately, clocks are not hung up in the hallways; walking into a random classroom to check the hour not only wastes my time, but that of the teachers.
One might say, “Just buy a watch.” I find multiple faults in this argument, the primary one being that watches cost money. I am a senior in high school who—at my big age—is expected to buy items for myself. Now, I am expected to purchase a new time-telling device when I already have one programmed into my phone.
Down on Down Time
Even on a campus as lively as Friends Academy, school remains a stressful place. When times get tough and atmospheres become overwhelming, I used to browse through my phone to de-stress. Now, with the new phone ban, I feel more stressed than ever, for there are no adequate outlets for me to ease my discomfort.
Sometimes you don’t want to talk to someone. In the absence of phones, forced sociability has uncharted potential to harm the mental health of dozens of students. “[Friends Academy] has traded self-growth and peace for sociability,” says one high-school student. “I feel like downtime is seemingly banned at FA in a sense…we always have to be ‘in-connection’ but can’t I also be alone in an environment so stressful?”
Consequences and Leniency
There is a major difference between a student glancing at the time versus grinding on Clash of Clans. Thus, they should not be treated as the same offence, for they are nowhere near the same type of violation. Checking the time for a noble reason, like my peer, is not as egregious as blatant disregard of the rules.
How can this be fixed? Easily, I say. Teachers must be receptive to students’ explanations of nonpermitted phone use. Humans, especially ones as keen as teachers, can detect when they are being told falsehoods. Thus, it should be simple for any given teacher to hear out students who are on their phones and judge whether or not they deserve punishment.
Another leniency problem I have observed is bias. I recently got my phone snatched—fair. I was glancing at the time which I can’t do, so I got it taken. Common sense. What is anything but common, however, is the fact that at least three other people in the room were also on their phones, yet I was the only one to get my device confiscated. Why me? Why not everyone? If the rule is that nobody is to be on their phone, why is it that only one of five people in the room faced consequences while the others got off free?
I notice this discrepancy in which teachers do not reprimand some students for being on their phones, while laying down harsh rules for others. I am not bothered by the fact I broke the rules, but bothered by the fact that I was solely to face punishment while others around me continue to violate the policy and face no punishment.
Phone Jail
No notes on this—I think it’s kind of quirky in a fun, mildly peevish way. At minimum, it makes the confiscation of my device seem insignificant. At worst, it takes an extra minute or so of commuting at the end of the day to retrieve my phone.
Conclusion
The phone ban is flawed, for it affects students in a variety of ways that cannot be generalized. It is true some people prioritize their phone over academics—that is precisely where the problem lies. However, for the students who use their devices to check the time, listen to music while studying, or text a parent or friend, the ban is unfair. Regulations become further prejudiced when certain students are let off the hook while others get their devices taken. Thus, the simple solution is that each case should be treated differently. Perhaps that way, everyone might be best benefitted buy the new rules Friends Academy adopted this year.
