Permanent Phone Ban?
This year, schools all over have recently doubled down on the phone policy. Whether it be limited use, phone holders, or only having it out at certain times. In light of this, New York schools have cracked down the hardest on phone usage by entirely banning phone use during the school day. Even if you are at lunch, in a study hall, or have nothing else to do in your class; you are prohibited from using your phone. Now this is not only limited to your phone, this also includes laptops, tablets, music, and entertainment systems.
This is not appropriate, entirely banning phones is a violation of our personal property. Limiting phone usage is more reasonable, however, entirely taking away phone privileges even if you are not doing anything is unreasonable. Also, taking away music is harmful to students who learn and focus better with it. According to ¨Frontiers in Psychology¨ on study behaviors, if you listen to music while studying, you will do better on a test if you listen to the same music you studied. So, if you’re at home studying music and now you can’t listen to it, it’s harder to retain the information.
New York law claims it ¨aims to ensure safe and focused learning environments across all NYCPS schools.¨(Schools.nyc.gov) However, how safe can it possibly make learning; with the right educators a phone shouldn´t make all the difference. There are many ways to have a good and focused learning environment without banning phones. There are certain cases when you should not be allowed to have your phone out but there are certain cases when you should. Such as when you’re at lunch, independent work, or a study hall; all times when having your phone should be acceptable. Times when others are talking, or times when teachers are actively teaching should not be allowed. Taking that away permanently will only make school an environment students do not want to be in and will only make them more resistant to learning if they cannot have access to things that are important to them. If something is going on at home, or your music.