Phone Ban Divisiveness
The newly introduced phone ban has been a cause of heavy talk through the beginning of this school year. The majority of students, as expected, are against the ban, yet the school argues that it increases productivity among students and promotes socializing.
In January, Governor Murphy signed a bill into law which required all public school districts in the state to prohibit students’ use of certain electronics, namely cell phones. The state claims cell phones have been a terrible distraction to students and as a result, their performance has suffered.
The student response around Central has been primarily negative so far. Many students find the ban to be repressive and unfair, as though it’s taking their personal freedom away. With that said, certain students find the ban understandable. “I think the cell phone ban is reasonable and I understand it, but at the same time, I don’t think they should be banning headphones or airpods which could be helping students focus during class.” says Ethan Guy, a class of 2027 student.
Teachers have generally had a more positive reaction to the ban. Many say that it has made students more social and willing to participate during class. Mrs. Miklosey has said that she has noticed a staunch change among her students this year. “They’ve become more active in class and speak more with one another. They use flash cards and study sheets rather than just taking to their phones or using Google for the quick answer.” In previous years, many teachers have needed to put up phone holders to prevent students from having even the temptation to use their devices.
This comes amidst a slew of new rules and standards around the school, including the enforcement of students wearing lanyards and carrying physical IDs. The aforementioned IDs are now a requirement, as students can no longer use their digital IDs from the Realtime app. But despite all the recent rule changes, none have been as impactful as the phone ban all around the school. The ban is in effect from this school year until it is overturned in the future.