In previous years, DSHA’s phone policy did not allow for phones during the school day, except for during students’ lunch period. However, there were new changes to the phone policy for the 2024-2025 school year. Let’s take a look at these new policies and how they have affected the student thus far.
This year, phones are not allowed at any time during school hours, including during lunch period. Consequences for having a phone out during school hours include the confiscating of the phone, the student paying five dollars at the end of the school day to get it back, as well as the handing out of a demerit to the student. In order to enforce these policies, there is a higher number of faculty in the lunchroom looking out for phones, as well as throughout the school day.
I have asked students how they feel about this new policy and how it has affected their socialization and academic life. Here are some of their thoughts.
How have you noticed the difference between the phone policy from last year to this year?
Many students say that during class, they do not notice a difference in the policy, due to it being similar to last year’s policy. However, the difference is noticed during their lunch period.
Rachel Memory says, “the most annoying thing is during lunch when I want to show my friend a photo or check my midday notifications”. Last year Rachel recalled not being on her phone excessively during lunch, she still feels the impact of the change in policy. While interviewing another student, she brought up another way she is impacted by the change in policy: her need to go on her phone after school. She states, “This new policy does make me want to have [my phone] more after school, because I cannot have it during the day” This has affected many students, because they cannot check their phone during the day, and they have the need to be on it much longer after school when they could be creating more connections with others.
Has this change allowed you to make new connections? Why or why not?
Students have not seen a dramatic boost in connections made as a result of the new policies. Students say that even though their phones are away, it does not motivate them to walk around and meet new people because they are content with those they regularly sit with. They question if phones really are the factor that needs to be changed in order to make new connections. While the elimination of phones may not generate new connections, students observe the strengthening of old friendships as a result of the new policy. When they put down their phones, they grow closer to those they are around. This is one positive impact of the new policy.
Most students feel as though this new policy is not affecting them in the positive way the administration intended it to. They feel as though the expelling of phones at lunch has not pushed them to make new connections. Although it has strengthened old connections, students feel like they are limited in how they can spend their time and capture their school day. Will the administration stick with this strict enforcement of these new rules, or will they begin to relax them as the year goes on and their intended effect wears off?
