After one year of the DCPS school-wide cellphone ban, students have mixed opinions about having their phones taken away at the start of everyday. However, many seem to agree on how the policy has affected them.

Many students feel that phones make learning more accessible. 

Freshman Sophia Szabo describes that although the phone ban was originally intended to help with learning, “in reality, it causes more distraction…When you have your phone it’s easier to learn.” She adds, “With so many restrictions on the computer, resources toward learning are blocked.” She explains that this makes learning difficult, and students sometimes have to resort to using phones in class for research or educational videos. 

Additionally, students feel that the ban creates more distractions in class, from students smashing their pouches in the bathroom to hiding their phones behind computer screens and under desks. 

“Students use their phones anyway,” said freshman Iris Grim, “I think it’s just a waste of resources and money.” In addition to every student being assigned a Yondr pouch, many have needed multiple replacements throughout the year. The pouches cost $45 when purchased from the school, which is a financial burden on many students.

Teachers share similar opinions. Health teacher Lejanika Green says that students’ focus has not improved since the phone ban, stating, “Their focus has been redirected to other platforms, such as games and videos.” When asked if students still use their phones in class, she replied “absolutely,” informing us that they use them in obvious ways, as well as trying to hide them. “They are using them in the bathroom and hallways, and I can see kids breaking their Yondr pouches from my classroom.” She said that “students talk about how they bring two phones to school”, putting the broken phone in the Yondr and slipping the other one through undetected. “They find ways around it,” she said.  As a result, she is “not a fan” of the phone ban because it is ”micromanaging students.” She calls for more consistent consequences when students do not adhere to the policy.

Students and teachers alike seem to view the phone ban as a burden and a distraction that ultimately doesn’t help their learning. Hopefully, DCPS has learned its lesson, as students are guaranteed to find a way to get around restrictions against phones due to their importance to daily life. •