PRO: Cell phones should be used in the academic wing

At John Carroll, a policy has been enforced more this year where students need to keep phones away while in the academic wing. Students were encouraged to keep their phones in their backpacks or in their lockers during the school day.

The deans have enforced this policy this year, and many of the students were a bit surprised because they viewed it as a big change. This has presented problems for many of the students. In the past, they would use their phones if they forgot their laptops at their house or if their laptops did not have a charge. However, now, if students are caught with their phones, they will be issued a detention for having their phones in the academic wing.

The recent semester has presented some problems with this idea as students they would do if something happens during school. Students are worried about how they would contact their parents in case of an emergency.

Many students use their phones to look at their schedules or to see if their parents are trying to get hold of them during the school day. At JC there are A-H days which makes it hard for students to remember what classes they have next. Some who try to remember their schedule occasionally go to the wrong class, leading them to be late for their actual class.

Being able to have a phone that is easily accessible can help students not have to wonder if the phone is still in their locker or if it had been taken, providing an unwanted distraction in class for the student as a student would be thinking about that instead of the class.

Some students use music as a way to help them study and focus on class, and being able to quietly listen to a song while learning helps retain information. For some, students can listen to the music that they listened to during the lesson or while studying to help them remember the information they need for tests.

Teachers should be able to set boundaries for the students in their individual classrooms about having their phones out during class and having students put them away when the phones are not needed in the room.

In the past years, students were able to have their phones with them, and some teachers would require students to put their phones into a phone tree during class, and some would let the students have them on their desks.

However, students would get written up if they went on their phone during class for a non-academic reason. In these past years, there have been no real problem with students having their phones in class.

Recently, some students have been seen leaving class for long periods of time to go to the bathroom or out of the academic wing just to go on their phones. This could lead to more write-ups. In addition, the students are missing all of the material covered in class, resulting in their grades dropping dramatically.

Overall, this rule has led to more write-ups and students leaving class for long periods of time. If teachers set boundaries with the students and their phones, then we could see an increase in grades and a decrease in write-ups. – Juli Aragon

CON: Cell phones in the room are a barrier to an education

Hallways and classrooms are a place to grow in knowledge and friendships, not for distractions.

At the start of the school year, a rule was enforced that phones must always stay in lockers or out of the way except in lunch and off mods. Cell phone usage was no longer permitted in the academic wing.

Although this rule was not completely new, students looked at this as a major change, and some were very unhappy.

Phones take away from students’ abilities to be present and in the moment, and they serve as a distraction.

It is so easy nowadays to use your phone to escape boredom or awkwardness instead of stepping out of your comfort zone to make friends.

Especially when teachers give time in class to get work done, students are more likely to go on their phones instead of doing their work.

This can also encourage academic dishonesty. Having phones out in the academic wing makes it easier for students to cheat. Even if students “keep them in their pockets,” it is not always reliable that students will not be tempted to use them.

This also creates an unfair learning environment.

Cell phones serve as a big distraction whether students want to check social media, text friends, or play games.

A big worry that most students expressed is that they will not have the ability to contact their family if they need to. The faculty has reassured students many times that if our parents needed to contact us in case of an emergency, they could do it through the school.

Allowing students to use their phones in the hallways encourages students to be unsocial and not be aware of their surroundings.

When students are walking through the hallways and staring at their phones, they are not aware of those around them. It takes away from their ability to be social and have face-to-face conversations.  When students walk around hallways with their heads up and are aware, they can see and talk to friends as well as teachers.

Having phones can also lead to an increase in cyberbullying. With easy access to the internet, it can tempt students to hide behind their phones and bully fellow classmates, especially through photos.

Even students who do not mean to do it on purpose can accidentally catch other classmates in the back of photos, videos, or TikToks.

Situations like these can cause many problems.

Some might argue that students should be able to have their phones on them but away in their pockets. This can still cause a distraction through the ringing and buzzing of phones.

This disturbs students, and teachers, and will only tempt students even more to check their phones.

Another big impact of phones is their use in the bathrooms. Students leave class and go on their phones for long periods of time if they have their phones on them.

If a student leaves their phone in their locker, they are less likely to go and get them to use during a bathroom break.

The school provides students with fifty-five minute off mods; some students even have two off mods and thirty-minute lunches. This gives students plenty of time to go on their phones where they will not be causing distractions and conflict.           – Elizabeth Balint