By: Francesca Prati
The average teenager checks their phone over 100 times a day. One glance at a screen can lead to hours of phone time. Many teens aged 12-18 spend up to 9 hours a day looking at screens. This situation raises the question: Should students be allowed to use phones at school?
At SAMS, students are only permitted to have their phones before and after school. The rule is that phones must be kept in pockets and hidden from view. It stinks not being able to have phones out during school hours, but our principals made the right decision by setting the rules. Phones are distracting. They make students lose focus and hurt their ability to learn. Young people are trained to use technology, but technology can be problematic.
Some people think we should be able to use our phones during lunch. If we were allowed to use phones at lunch, kids would talk less and stare at screens more. They would be glued to their phones rather than socializing, chatting, and getting to know one another. Middle school is about learning how to interact, and having phones at lunch would prevent that.
Others claim we should have access to our phones because they keep us connected to our parents. This is true, but school has worked for decades without access to cell phones. Teachers still have phones and can contact parents in case of emergencies.
There are reasonable exceptions to phone use during the school day. If students have medical issues or conditions, they may need their cell phones. For example, a student who needs to be reminded to take medication should be able to message home. In these cases, we should be allowed to text quietly from our lockers.
Our apps are designed to keep us coming back. Many students use their phones to “complete their streaks” on TikTok or Roblox. This is an unreasonable excuse and should not be allowed.
Across the country, educators are debating whether students should be allowed to have their phones in school. Some states have either banned or locked up the phones. For example, legislation has been passed in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, Arkansas, Virginia, and California that restricts phone use in schools.
They have polices like “Bell-To-Bell.” This is where they lock their phones in green pouches and have to go to stations to unlock them. These are called Yondr Pouches. They are magnetic, lockable pouches that students carry but can’t open until the end of the day.
There are medical reasons schools should prohibit screen time. Phones emit blue light, which, when stared at long enough, can cause headaches, blurry vision, reduced blinking, and eye strain. While blue light hasn’t been proven to cause blindness, it can produce harmful molecules that damage your eyesight in the long term. It also increases Myopia, also known as Nearsightedness, which primarily affects young people.
Should we have phones in schools? My answer is ABSOLUTELY NOT! Phones are already used way too much at home. School is a place where students must socialize and learn. Phones are addictive and damaging to eyesight. Just take a break, talk with people, and spend time with your classmates. There are lots of things people could do if they spent much less time on their phones.
The SAMS Salmon 