Some people love the phone bans, while others hate them. Of course, most students resent them, given it is a restriction on their personal property until the end of class, at most. But it seems phones have become an extension of oneself nowadays; so, is it the taking of the phone, or the concept behind it?
The phone ban bill, which is House Bill 1105, has created the phone locker rule, having its pros and cons. Elementary and middle school students are restricted from phone use for the entirety of the day, while high school students are only restricted during instructional times.
A noticeable pro with the bill, that teachers have pointed out, is that phones seem to distract the kids, also creating obvious stress that has reduced with the phone ban. On the contrary, letting students have their phones rather than in a locker establishes a safety net for parents and students, by allowing them to update each other throughout the day or communicate during a situation that isn’t comfortable or safe. It also provides safety for kids who need it for health reasons.
After analyzing the outcome of having phones in lockers, teachers have noticed that students are now able to develop socio-emotional skills more than they ever have since the COVID-19 lockdown. Phones are a way to pull away for many people. Especially after quarantine, people began to use phones as a distraction from people or to close themselves off.
Many of them had to regain those social skills or just get back into the groove. But this epidemic has just continued to follow many throughout their life. Social interactions have become fewer since then, and phones have become the only focus in most minds.
The website conversation.com did a survey of students’ opinions on the issue. The study proved that 31% of kids felt relieved without their phone in most situations, 69% said the opposite, 34% said that social media is harmful and that having it away during school hours was good, 66% disagreed.
Many teachers utilize them as a source for education or as a companion to the lessons. Students feel that the rule is degrading.
One student from Gulf Breeze High School says, “The ban is unnecessary; it takes away the choice of being able to contact people if they need to.”
On the contrary, Mrs. Edwards, marine science teacher, says, “I think it’s stinking awesome! It keeps students engaged during class, which can be so difficult with phones in the way.”
They are told they are young adults or that they need to begin to act more like adults, as they will be in college soon. Yet they are still being treated like young children with this type of rule. When they have something forcibly taken from them, they aren’t learning any responsibility for the matter.
Currently, the phone ban will continue, but the ongoing debate still continues. So far, it benefits just as many people as it does not.