It’s a big year for Fieldston: a beautifully renovated cafeteria, a relined gym floor and a new Dean of Student Engagement have all made big debuts in the last two weeks. But not all the changes are loved. There’s been significant pushback on the new Ethical Technology Use Policy (ETUP).
Among the changes, is the Generative AI Acceptable Use Policy, which declines to put a complete ban on LLMs (or Large Language Models, like ChatGPT) and other AI-related tools. Instead, students are expected to use artificial intelligence “in line with the school’s principles of academic integrity following the guidance of our teachers,” according to the ETUP. Even as “Humanizer” tools are released that make the work of AI harder to detect, some teachers have reportedly granted unlimited use for all coursework.
“You can just use it on the homework, and he doesn’t care,” said an anonymous student whose teacher had recently given full AI access to students. “Everyone’s using it, and the school doesn’t do anything, so he doesn’t care.”
But what has caused the most dissension among students is the new cell phone policy. Instead of keeping phones in pockets or backpacks, new phone caddies have been deployed in every classroom. Students turn their phones in at the beginning of class and take them as they exit. The main concern among students is that, because caddies are often in the back of the room, there isn’t time to recover phones when the fire alarm sounds.
(Source: Caitlin Neidow)
A Form V student said not having his cell phone on him was “a real safety concern.”
Rashad Randolph, the Assistant Principal of Student Life, spoke on the issue during an assembly. “There’s no reason for you to have your phone on you in here or during class,” stated Randolph. “If there is an emergency, we have ways to get in touch with your families.”
Currently, when students are in assemblies, phones are expected to be in backpacks, which are supposed to be in lockers. Recently, backpacks have been seen adorning the curving stone wall on the Quad. (This is a temporary measure – according to Upper School Principal Stacey Bobo, magnetic pouches will soon be used to hold phones during assemblies).
The most widely contested issue is that cell phones are no longer permitted in the Tate Library. “The goal of this policy change is to help students focus better in class and to have healthier social interactions with their peers,” wrote Bobo in an email to the school. “There is ongoing research on the effects of excessive use of cell phones and social media.”
Despite being designated as an academic workspace, the Tate Library is often the most popular location choice for students with free time. Because the Tate is such a popular recreational space, the changes to the ETUP have left students with limited options, especially with the frequent closures of the Student Commons for events.
History Teacher Bob Montera, on the other hand, suggested the Nature Garden behind the Tate as an ideal location for students to use their cell phones. He said, “Fresh air. Beautiful environment. Benches. Close proximity to the library. And, it preserves the quiet of the library as a place to work noise-free and distraction-free.”
As of right now, the ETUP and Student/Family Handbook have not been sent to students, though parents have received both, according to Randolph and Bobo, who partially authored the documents.
Are these changes truly beneficial to our community? Will students be able to adapt? Only time will tell.
