Lillian Groft, 6th Grade, Astrid Reyes Blanco, 6th Grade, Journi Russell, 6th Grade
Noe Middle School students have mixed feelings about the new cell phone policy.
Due to a new state law, students can no longer use cell phones during the school day. While Noe already had a cell phone policy, the state law goes a little further, prohibiting cell phone use during the entire school day, including passing periods and lunch.
Some students said they didn’t need their phones in school and kids in class are better off without phones.
”No phones creates a healthier learning environment for kids,” Astrid Reyes said.
Other students shared opposite views. Sixth-grader Lucy Helms said she was concerned about safety and what happens if there is an emergency and they can’t tell their parents.
“Some students think it would just be easier to use phones than Chromebooks for school work,” Reyes said.
According to Reyes, if students use them correctly, cell phones could be useful in school
Teachers have mixed feelings as well, even though most think the ban is good for the school. Some teachers think the ban on phones will make kids more focused, they won’t record fights, and there will be less online drama or bullying.
Sixth-grade teacher Mrs. Florey said kids will learn to communicate better with people and in the event of an emergency, kids can call parents on school phones and the school will communicate with families.
“If there was an emergency it would probably be a false call and it would just get parents worried for no reason if students text them,” Florey said.
Mr. Nelson, a related arts teacher, said students over rely on cell phones and they can be used irresponsibly – recording incidents such as fights or invading the privacy of other students by filming them or taking unwanted photos.
For other teachers, nothing has changed.
“My classes have been the same,” Sixth-grade teacher Mrs. Sells said. “I haven’t seen much change, but since kids don’t have phones at lunch, the lunchroom has been louder.”
One issue that has come up is the use of headphones. The new state law prohibits electronic devices, including personal earbuds or headphones.
“There is a problem concerning the headphones,” Florey said.
“Kids don’t want to wear the same headphones every other sixth-grader has had on their heads,” Florey said.
There are adults at Noe who don’t agree with the new law. Sixth-grade teacher Dr. Jordan said taking phones away from students only makes them want them more.
“Rather than banning phones and taking them away from students, we should teach students that they don’t need phones all the time,” Jordan said.
Dr. Jordan said banning phones can result in students trying to sneak them under their desk.
“If there was anything I would change it would be that we would have some way to teach them no phones or collect the phones,” Jordan said.
Dr. Jordan does believe that the ban can help limit cyberbullying. Not having phones at school creates less chances for students to take a picture, which can be used to cyber bully.
Mrs. Florey added that at times students who have always followed the rules can be adversely affected. However, she said dealing with phone issues in class wastes learning time. Now, the teacher simply states it’s the law.
