As Upper School students fill the hallways during passing periods, breaks, and lunch, there’s one thing that they all have in common: they’re all holding cell phones. Whether it’s using one of many social media apps, texting someone, or merely checking the portal, the seemingly inseparable bond between a teenager and their phone has become the norm. However, the constant scrolling, texting, and snapping will have to come to a stop this year with the implementation of a new phone policy.
When cell phone usage became popular after the release of the first iPhone, Parker created a phone usage policy stating, “Devices should be silenced during the school day, and phone use must be consistent with the Technology Acceptable Use Policy.” Now, with the overall distraction phones pose, administration has chosen to implement a new policy, one that bans phone usage altogether.
The new policy states that students’ phones must be put away from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. regardless of whether they’re in a class or on break. When comparing it to the previous policy, which allows for phone usage during lunch, breaks, and passing periods,, going from free phone usage when not in class to none at all is a big jump for all students.
Students recognized this drastic change, and when the policy was announced at the end of last school year, some students felt blindsided by this abrupt change and didn’t see it as vital.
“It really feels pointless and it seems like there was little reason for its creation,” junior Ella Goodman said. “I’m also confused on how this fits as ‘progressive’ because if technology is our future, this policy sets us back 20 years.”
The policy was created for a plethora of reasons all related to student productivity and overall well being, rather than a result of a prior incident. The three main reasons are: to increase student learning, build community, and decrease anxiety. These claims have been backed up by studies and books like Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation.
While developing the policy, the administration knew they could not eliminate phone usage altogether. When students choose to leave campus, they’re free to use their phones. Head of Upper School Cory Zeller anticipates that students may go off campus to use their phones, but hopes that it will not become a habit.
If students are found using their phones on campus, a faculty or staff member will simply take it and leave it in the Upper School Office where the student can retrieve it at the end of the day.
“I don’t want there to be punishments but rather a shift in culture where we default to putting them away and being with each other in person,” Zeller said.
The new phone policy is set to be put into place on the first day of school, September 3, and while it may take some time to get used to, it will hopefully become second nature.
“It will definitely be a big shift,” sophomore Raiva Lessing said. “But I think we should keep an open mind about it because it may be just what our community needs.”
