New Policy
AITE’s school policy prohibits the use of cell phones; they must be out of sight and on silent. However, there is an accommodation for phones being used for educational purposes. Teachers are able to allow phones to be used for the purpose of their lesson. Cell phones are also permitted during lunch, passing time, and after school.
Student Opinions
With this new policy comes differing opinions. When we asked our classmates, many agreed that they like being treated like young adults who can make smart decisions. Jessica Sharma, junior said, “I’d rather keep my phone near me than in a caddy.” Maria Pereria, junior, said, “It benefits students and teachers because phones are away, and we don’t have to put them in a caddy.” Noah Tripuzzi, another junior said, “It’s not as bad as people make it out to be.” It has been found amongst the majority of students, this is the general opinion.
Teacher Opinions
One of our science teachers actually finds the policy useful. In the classroom, students are able to use their phones to upload work and use features to assist them during experiments. Although all teachers agree phones can be distracting in the classroom. Another teacher found the policy is not strict enough or well enforced. Some students will get a million warnings, but they still won’t listen. Mrs. Pusser, Social Studies teacher, agrees that students should be allowed to have their phones until it proves to be a problem. She has taken an interesting approach as well, using her coveted “Pusser Bucks” as a way to incentivize students into putting their phones up. While still giving them the option to opt out and keep their phones with them. Although, even she can agree that some students have trouble following the rules of keeping their phones out of sight.
Our Opinion
While we can agree that phones can be a serious issue in the classroom, we also believe that this new policy is extremely beneficial. It reflects positively on the trust our school’s administration has in its students. It’s also a good learning curve for students as they learn how to navigate phone usage in a working environment.
