Tallmadge High School implemented a cell phone restriction last year. This year, Governor Mike DeWine has implemented the Cell Phone Policy for all Ohio schools. High school students who attended when this policy was not in effect but now have to follow it have had mixed opinions. Students are now asked to keep their phones in lockers during all classes, and the only time they can use them is during academy time.
Yasmine Scavdis is a junior at Tallmadge high school. Scavdis shared that she was on her phone less before this policy was implemented, so it does not affect her.
“I didn’t use my phone that much before the policy was implemented so it doesn’t affect me as much. I also think some people are addicted to their phones and shouldn’t have them all the time during class because I also get distracted when I have mine out,” Scavdis said.
Junior Gianna Gosorn disagrees with this policy. Gosorn believes that students should be able to have their phones on them whenever they want instead of having to keep them in their lockers.
“I think if something happens while in class, we don’t have a phone, or any electronic to contact for help,” Gosorn said.
Senior Layan Yassin is also affected by this policy because when she gets her work done in a class, or she has nothing to do, she believes it is fair that the students who have earned it get the privilege to be on their phones if they are allowed. Yassin does like the policy because it eliminates distractions, but wishes they were still an option in classes.
“In a way, I like it because it stops distractions, but I think some administration overreacts a little too much when they see a phone. I believe the policy is good because I’m not consistently thinking about my phone and the notifications, but if someone has their phone with them in class I think it should be allowed, especially if the teacher doesn’t mind the student being on their phone after the classwork is complete,” Yassin said.
Scavdis states that before this policy, she would only be on her phone if all of her work was completed and the teacher was okay with it. Scavdis also includes that some teachers already owned phone pockets for students to put their phones in to take away distractions in class, so she was already used to this rule in some classes.
At the end of it all, Scavdis said that she believes the policy is positive and helps with learning for people who are easily distracted when it comes to having their phones easily accessible.
“The phone policy, I believe, does help with learning because my phone does distract me very easily when it’s visible, so I try my best not to have it out,” said Scavdis.
Having the option to check your phone during academy time has been very helpful to most in accepting this policy. Scavdis shares that she enjoys the option that is given to check her phone in the academy because it gives her an option throughout school days to check messages from her family and friends. She also checks Remind messages from the school or coaches/teachers for classes and sports.
“I do not think we should have our phones taken from us in academy blocks because I need mine for many different reasons,” Scavdis said.
To conclude, Scavdis says that she believes the policy has a positive effect because it allows students to focus more on school and be more involved in learning when in the classroom. Scavdis also shares that if phones were to be taken away during lunch and academy, she would not be in favor, for students can use their phones responsibly and properly during that time.
“I think the phone policy right now has a positive effect because it allows students to focus more on their schoolwork and learning. If the policy is turned to no phones at all, I would not be in favor of it because I believe our phones can be used responsibly during academy blocks and lunch,” Scavdis concluded.
