Phone policy: What do teachers think?

The beginning of the school year marked the start of a new era: the phone policy. This year administration has put in place a new policy where students are prohibited to have their phones out anytime other than during passing periods or lunch.

Now, we’re one quarter in, let’s see what the staff think!

History teacher Levi Molenhour believes that the new policy has created a positive impact in his classroom.

“Students are staying off their phones. They’re having conversations with one another at the end of class instead of being on their phones. They’re a lot more engaged because they’re actually doing what they’re supposed to be doing,” he said.

CTE teacher Amanda Perez-Rosser agrees.

“I would say that the new phone rule has positively impacted my classroom. Students are more
engaged, and I feel like they’re talking to each other more, which is nice to see. I feel like setting the expectation at the beginning of the year was good.”

Even for deans, the policy has positively affected their year.

“As a dean, yes, I feel like I’m getting less and less kids that are overly distracted. I feel like kids are more focused this year, and I don’t feel like our hallways are as crazy because people aren’t on their phones texting each other to meet up and do things they’re not supposed to do,” said Allison Pentti.

“I’m actually not getting very many referrals, so I think kids are following the rules in class,” she added.

Some teachers believe that the phone policy has been easier to enforce for the freshman because of the rules they had at the middle school the year prior.

“I think that the freshmen are more used to a stricter phone policy because it’s the policy that they had put in place in middle school. Some students abide by the rules, some don’t, but for the most part, they are pretty good about keeping their phones put away when asked,” said Biology teacher Holly Spencer.

For English teacher Rosie Esparza the only downside has been the inconsistency in other classes.

“I think now that it’s [the cell phone ban] more common throughout their day. It’s more expected [to keep their phones away]. I think the only negatives I’ve seen are that some teachers in their classes don’t enforce the phone policy and that’s where it gets tough, kind of not having the consistency,” she stated.

“Other than that, I think, yes, absolutely. I’ve seen a positive impact in my classes,” she added.

The positive impact for staff is undeniable, we will see what the future holds.