As the beginning months of the school year come to a close, let’s look back on the student opinions regarding the cell phone ban. Recently, the administration issued a survey for both students and teachers about the New York State issued ban. The survey was the idea of the student representatives to the Board of Education, with the majority of questions written by Representative Judah Kischnick ’27. The student representatives plan to issue similar surveys quarterly to see the shift in perspectives throughout the academic year. Holistically, the data showed general leanings with most students taking a neutral stance on both the phone ban and use of pouches. The overall rating of students’ experiences with the phone ban was 3.14 out of 5, with the teachers’ rating at 4.26.
More specifically, sixty percent of students said they used their phones less than the previous school year. Interestingly, thirty-six percent of students felt the hallway atmosphere was worse, but the majority said it had stayed the same. Teachers, on the other hand, noted a feeling of increased positivity, with more connection in the hallways and classroom. Additionally, most students seem to feel as anxious as before the ban, with twenty-eight percent feeling more anxious.
Moreover, students collectively agree it’s difficult to not use your phone during lunch, and have trouble contacting their parents or guardians. The cell phone ban has also proved to limit certain aspects of learning in the classroom setting, with many being upset with the inability to listen to music throughout the day.
All and all the cell phone ban has posed problems for both students and staff. However, it seems to be a universally neutral experience in the academic setting as it clearly increases focus and engagement. It will be interesting to see the trends throughout the school year as the administration looks into policy amendments.