By Gracelyn Skilling ’26
It’s one of the most controversial objects regarding education. You might even go as far as to say it’s one of the most influential objects in today’s society. Yes, I’m talking about cell phones, and the classic question of “do phones belong in schools?”
This year, Beverly High School’s phone policy has dramatically tightened. In stark contrast to previous years, where it wasn’t uncommon to see phones lying on desks or being checked intermittently during class, all students are now required to place their phones in a locked box upon entering the classroom.
Inside schools, “phone” is often treated as a synonym for “unnecessary distraction.” Is that really the case? Well, I spoke with a few of my fellow students to hear their thoughts on the new phone ban and how it’s affected them.
We’ll start with the positives. While many students felt that not having access to their phones did not improve their focus, some disagreed. Two sophomores expressed that the new policy has helped them stay on task and get more work done. Another added that, “I appreciate that the phones were banned during class because some people during class were using Snapchat, watching videos without headphones, etc.”
The pros seem to end there, though, at least according to BHS students. Not very surprisingly, many students seem to be skeptical of the new policy. One student said, “I feel like there are more problems at large than cell phone usage at BHS. . . . we should try to integrate them into the classroom rather than outright banning them, because at that point it’s punishing everyone for the actions of a few.”
This is a common theme echoed in most students’ opinions–many have expressed that the ban feels unnecessary or pointless, primarily because, as one student pointed out, “students can still be unfocused on their laptops, on which they can do all the same things as they can on their phones.” In fact, the majority of the students I spoke with expressed that being separated from their phone during class did not actually increase their focus or productivity.
Several of the students also brought up the safety concerns of the phone policy. “I know people who have diabetes and a genuine worry with their parents is that they’ll lose contact with their child,” one student explained. “God forbid there be an emergency where someone needs a quick response.”
“I feel it’s unnecessary and just plain annoying,” another student said, “that there are students who can drive, are legal adults, and are supposed to be preparing for college and workplaces (where they won’t take their employees/students phones) . . . we should be given the same treatment and responsibility.”
Of the students I surveyed, only 16% supported the new phone ban, and only 33% said that they felt it had increased their productivity and focus. And while there are some positives to this new system, the negatives seem to greatly outweigh them–at least in the eyes of the students. Will this policy become the new norm for BHS and other schools? Will this be the end-all solution to phone disruptions? Only time may tell.
Idea credit: Charlie Usuanlele
