Throughout Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and across the country, numerous schools are altering their phone policies in an effort to revitalize students’ education, a move vital to the betterment of student learning and well-being.
MCPS released a new cell phone policy for the 2024-25 school year detailing various expectations regarding phone usage. These changes come at a critical time, as students increasingly find themselves addicted to technology at the expense of their learning.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), cell phones can be a distraction to learning in classrooms. They do not even need to be in active use to divert student attention from learning material: through mere passive presence in classes, cell phones are capable of disrupting the focus of students through constant notifications.
Teachers evidently feel these effects just as much as students. A recent study by the Pew Research Center states that 72% of U.S. high school teachers said that cell phone distraction is highly problematic in the classroom.
Furthermore, frequent cell phone use can pose risks to student well-being, with disproportionate impacts on younger children. Rachel Harper, the Principal of St. Patrick’s Primary School in Israel, stated that “children as young as nine years old [were] requesting smartphones, and it was evident that these children were not emotionally ready to navigate the complexities of these devices and the digital world.” Kwame Morton, superintendent of Cherry Hill Public School district, similarly believes phones contribute to the “constant barrage on [students’] mental health.”
Although immense damage has been perpetrated by cell phones, the harm is reversible. The UNESCO’s study found that removing cell phones from schools in Belgium, Spain, and the United Kingdom enhanced students’ learning, providing hope of change through the implementation of necessary phone policies within schools.
Closer to home, the English Department at Sherwood High School implemented a uniform policy this year across all English classes. At the start of each class, teachers state necessary materials and students put devices in their backpacks, which are then stored in a designated space. Students who repeatedly disobey instructions receive disciplinary action, including lunch detentions and administration referrals.
While no other department at Sherwood has followed suit, both teachers and students hope similar policies will be implemented soon, as teachers and students alike are reaping the benefits of this policy. Students are more engaged and less distracted during class. Sherwood English teacher Ms. Elizabeth Kominski said, “the difference in [students’] attention spans… the majority of kids [are] really focusing on the content.”
Sherwood junior Hanna Serour echoed these sentiments, stating that “the restrictions are a good thing because they minimize distractions and ensure that people are paying attention in class.”
While it cannot be denied that phones have some benefits in schools if used wisely, these minute advantages cannot possibly outweigh the overarching negative effects. Phones have caused enough damage in classrooms, and it is now imperative for schools to restrict phone usage.
Written by Nisha Khatri
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons