Every day students are caught with their phones out in school. It happens to the best of us, but there is simple solution besides disciplinary actions to keep this from happening: allowing phones in school.

Allowing phones in all parts of the school would obviously create problems of cheating and dishonesty through even easier contact between students, using text message rather than using apps and email on your computer. However, banning phones just in the academic wing, where there are tests, quizzes, and other graded work are present is a feasible rule change. It would make way for far less punishment, more entertainment and overall more connection with others.

With so many students needing to contact their parents and friends outside of school, it would be a non-controversial and helpful way to let students use their phones in all places in the school other than the academic wing.

A policy change with such a big impact, like this one, must have a great extent of support to pass.

However, many administrators, even Vice Principal of Student Affairs and Technology, seem to be open to the change “A rule change needs total teacher and administration support and has to be a benefit for all students,” Vice Principal of Technology and Student Affairs Brian Powell said.

“However, I would also be repulsed to walk into the cafeteria and see an entire table taking selfies,” Powell said.

“I look at it this way, this is 2015 and cell phones do more and more. Everything a person needs to know is right on their phone. I don’t have a problem with the rule change, as long as it’s not used in class,” Principal Madelyn Ball said.  

Now with the simple use of your phone, there is a simpler way to find out where your next class is: digitally. Instead of finding your schedule among your pile of papers and or having to boot up your “speedy” laptops, you can simply have a picture of your schedule. This way you can quickly pull it up on your phone to find out where you are going next.

According to a new study done by Nielsen Holdings N.V., 70 percent of teens ages 13-17 use a smartphone, and the same goes for 79 percent of young adults ages 18-24. It is likely since students’ lives depend on their phone that there are plenty of other students at my back. Having such seemingly strong support from the staff, it seems to be heading in the right direction of a rule change.

With all the reasoning, there’s no conflict with why phones should not be allowed throughout the school other than the academic wing. I cannot express the amount of times I have been yelled at for trying to message my parents and friends on my phone in the cafeteria. There is nothing wrong with these actions and they should not be disciplined like they are.

Grant Sharretts is a Sports Editor for the Patriot and jcpatriot.com.