To ring in the school year, a new phone policy has been initiated to help eliminate distractions and allow students to stay focused in the classroom, and while some students think this is beneficial, others have a different perspective.

“The new phone policy is a big change that felt strict at first,” junior Eliore Nourani said. “I understand it’s supposed to help students focus, and it did make me realize how much I was checking my phone in class.”

Many students often spend time on social media, texting their friends or playing games on their phones in class, especially when there is little work to do. Now, students are expected to put their phones into a pocket chart when they enter, and get it before they leave class for the day, eliminating any usage during the lesson.

“I think it can be beneficial to students, but it also takes up time in class,” Nourani said. “I think that requiring students to have their phones in their backpacks would have the same effect that the phone chart has, and be more efficient.”

Some students find the new phone policy to be a hassle, with everyone trying to collect their phones at the same time. However, the system allows teachers to easily see that no one is using their phone, which reduces cheating opportunities and distractions.

“There is definitely less cheating going on now, which makes things easier for teachers,” junior Nathan Braca said. “However, sometimes in class we need to use our phones for certain things, like if a website is blocked, and having our phones up on the wall makes that aspect more difficult.”

Many websites are blocked on the school computers, so students often rely on their phones to find videos or articles. When the phones are expected to be put away, they are no longer able to do that.

“Most teachers allow us to quickly use our phones if it’s necessary,” Braca said. “The policy seems to be working out well, and in my opinion, the benefits outweigh the negatives so far.”