Entering the 2024 school year, returning students expected to be met with the same rules as always. However, Spring 2023 discussion of a new phone policy developed into a plan for a new system, banning student’s phones during class starting this Fall.
“It kind of felt out of the blue,” says Ainsley Vendola (‘25). “We didn’t really think it was going to happen or work.” Some teachers have done this for years, but the change is that all teachers are doing it now, more consistently.
The new phone policy states that students, whenever they enter a class, must put their phones in a pouch given to every teacher at Skyline. Every students’ phone must remain there until the end of the hour. Phones are only permitted in the halls during passing time and lunch.
Parents were informed of this policy and are expected to call the office to reach their children. Students were also informed, as they were required to sign a waiver of agreement in order to take their picture at registration. Most students, especially those who have already had previous years at Skyline, were initially upset at this sudden change and felt strongly about phones being taken during class. “I feel like they rushed too fast into something so strict,” says Ryann Brooks (‘26). “It’s upsetting to not be able to use my phone during free time.”
However, as this first trimester has gone by with this new policy, many students have changed their minds. As The Skyline Post has interviewed the student body, there has been a noticeable variety of opinions. Some students still feel as though taking their property during class is unnecessary, should not be allowed, and limits their communication home.
But just as many students The Post spoke with seem to feel as though the policy has limited distractions, helped them get their work done, and helped everyone succeed in class. “The new phone policy makes me focus because it’s limiting distraction during class,” says Britta Coultas (‘25). “It allows me to give my full attention to the teacher at all times.”
While Coultas’s opinion would have been seen as controversial within the first few days of school, students have been adjusting well to the new change. “I personally like the new policy,” says Riley Howe (‘25). “I took AP chem last year and had Mr. Jones… He didn’t allow us to have our phones out at all in class and for me that helped my learning of the subject a lot better.”
Luke Zogaib (‘25) feels the same way: “I think it helps me focus in class more. I get a lot more work done.” On the flip side, many students still feel strongly against it and feel that it is unfair that our administration believes this is the best way to support student focus.
“It’s disrespectful to take our phones during class because it’s our property and they shouldn’t be allowed to do that,” says Dylan Lindsey (‘28), “I think a public school should not have the ability to take our phones from us because there’s time in class where we’re doing nothing and I’m still not allowed to have my phone. I just don’t understand why.”
Students have also expressed concerns about limited communication home and the inability to talk to people you are not directly with such as parents and coaches. “I don’t like my phone being far away from me during class,” says Charlie Hazzi (‘25). “I like to have it by me in case of emergency or needing to contact my parents.”
Many students have strong opinions about how controlling the new policy is. “I think that if people aren’t paying attention that’s their own problem and we should be able to self manage,” says Elle Wong (‘25). “Personally I get the same amount of work done as I did last year. I don’t think it makes me more productive.”
Another Skyline senior, Anika Vaitkevicius (‘25) feels similarly: “I honestly feel like they should just not have the policy and it should be under our own self-control because if we can’t learn to put our phones away and focus ourselves, then how will we survive in college?”
Read about Skyline teachers’ points of view here.
