This year marks the first time in technology history that the Fieldston community instituted a policy preventing cellphones from being used during various times and in various places on campus. More specifically, the new school policy prohibits students from using cellphones using class time, while in the Tate Library and during school assemblies. And while students are largely expected to simply keep phones “off” and stowed in backpacks, caddies are supplied to hold them in classes. While not a complete ban, the restricted cell phone use times essentially constitute about 85% of an average school day. It’s no secret that the use of cellphones has pervaded every aspect of daily life, but no one saw this policy coming. Additionally, there isn’t a single person who doesn’t have a strong opinion. The question remains: what is the driving force and objective for this rather controversial policy at school?
In a recent New York Times article, writer Natasha Singer comments that “cellphones have become a school scourge. More than 70% of high school teachers say student phone distraction is a major problem.” Phone use in academia definitely sidetracks students from their work and can provide a means of procuring information that teachers may want sourced in another manner. Some people have cited cellphone use as the culprit in sharing information about fellow students. Situations like these can result in decreased well being, uncomfortable situations and even confrontations. That said, Singer acknowledges the other side of the argument. She writes that “the bans could have a limited effect on the larger problem of technology in the classroom.” Students and teachers depend on the technology of a phone as part of the learning equation. Is there a happy medium between these two sides or is this the only path, albeit somewhat severe, to an improved school day for all students?
Some students found they could “concentrate more on schoolwork and weren’t so worried about the whole world going on inside my phone.” Interestingly enough, no one with this positive outlook cared to provide their name for this article. This implies it’s not a popular opinion to appreciate the absence of cellphones. Conversely, students were willing to go on record to express their displeasure. Form V student Alexa Friedman comments that “maybe cellphones do have a larger place than they needed but they also had a place to begin with for a reason. While students may sometimes be on their phones too much during class, we need it to study! No phones in the library? What if there’s an emergency that requires communication? In those instances, the ban is taking it too far.”
The policy is not as simple as allowing for increased focus during class/library/assembly time. The fact remains that not every student has the same situation outside of school. What about students that are involved with some form of adult caretaking responsibility? What if parents need to reach their children immediately? What if there’s an emergency during class or in one of those other times and students don’t have their phone readily at their fingertips to communicate? The push and pull of the two sides seems to stack up as technology, communication and safety against heightened attentiveness and increased human to human interaction at school. Either side in the debate about cellphones means the loss of something that the devices provide or detract from students’ days.
A time when students came to school and could only communicate by direct talking or calling from a random payphone seems unimaginable. A time when computers didn’t exist yet and devices were not a cornerstone of everyday lives. These truths existed not so long ago. Perhaps some simplicities are healthy to retain. On a human level, the absence of phones creates more direct dialogue between students and teachers. Students are unquestionably required to think independently of information their phones may provide. Does it provide different external pressures if there is danger, a family member in need of immediate contact or a piece of information needed in a timely manner? For the true answer to this question, maybe you should ask your phone.
