As the bell rings promptly at 8:15, students all over the Vista Ridge campus take out their earbuds, shut down their phones, and put them away. Whether they want to or not, students are expected to unplug from the rest of the world and plug into their classes.
For the 24-25 school year, Vista has decided to implement a new cell phone policy. This policy explicitly states that all phones, headphones, and even smartwatches that can connect to Wi-Fi are prohibited during all class times, including ranger time. So far, there have been many complaints from students and even staff about this new policy.
“The new policy so far has been very inconvenient and takes the focus away from learning,” freshman Sydney Wigley said. “Teachers waste time enforcing it, and whenever someone wants or needs to use their phone for something, they have to have chats about it. Also, the classrooms are set up to use phones, meaning there are QR codes everywhere,” Wigley said.
Many teachers start their classes by demanding all phones be put up, reiterating why the policy is important, and wasting learning time doing so.
“If the school’s goal is for us to be on our phones less, they might be successful in class, but not the rest of the day,” Wigley said. “We are allowed to have our phones during passing periods and lunch, and because we haven’t had our phones all day, during lunch it’s all we focus on.” Wigley said.
Taking phones out of the classroom only makes students yearn for the next bell to ring so they can get right back on them. This has meant that during lunch periods, students are much less social and only focus on their technology. So yes, students might be more focused during class and making better grades, but not making friends because they are glued to their screens is a much bigger issue.
“Instead of just removing the technology, the best scenario is to teach you how to use it as a tool and not as a distraction,” English teacher Nicole Mize said. “So is this policy the best way? No. But, it’s a way, and it’s not a bad way,” Mize said.
Teachers this year are more focused on teaching us why phones are ruining our brains, instead of teaching us how to effectively use them in the classroom. This is our world now, and phones are not going away. Instead of banning them altogether, we need to learn how to work with technology and use it to help in the many ways it can, especially regarding learning.
“I believe the intentions of the school are good, but I do believe if a student is on their phone and choosing not to focus, it is on them,” Wigley said. “I think in certain cases, like focus and attention, the policy is helping, but I also think the way teachers approach it matters.”
