Strict Phone Policy: Important Boundary or Unfortunate Misstep?

MCPS has faced multiple problems with phone overuse in recent years — according to All About Vision, the average teen spends nearly 7.5 hours per day on their phone. In order to address this issue, schools including Walt Whitman and B-CC have implemented stricter phone policies.

Bella Komotov, a junior at Whitman, said, “Most classes require phones to be put in phone pockets, and when those classes do require it, I do definitely have a better focus on my work.” Komotov added, “As long as phones aren’t being confiscated, then it’s fine.” Confiscation is a real concern for some students. MCPS policy gives teachers the authority  to confiscate phones when needed. This tends to occur in cases of non-compliance with established Personal Mobile Device (PMD) policies. 

Phone policies have demonstrated benefits. Psychology Today covered a study in which 548 college students at the University of Texas were thrown into an experiment testing whether or not having your phone close by impacts one’s cognition. In the experiment the group that was required to put their phones in another room scored significantly higher than the other groups, who either had their phones on their desks or inside their bags. The study suggests that if students put their phones away, they remove a large cause of distractions and are able to be more productive and on task. 

Aubrie Chambers, another junior from Whitman, shared her perspective: “When we’re not really doing anything, I definitely feel a lot more bored. And I don’t think that it helps me focus any more than I did before, like last year.” Chambers thought that there should be exceptions depending on the class, particularly elective classes. “If we were making artwork or having free time, I don’t see how [a strict PMD policy] makes me more focused,” she said. Chambers raises a point on how this policy is less effective in classes that allow more free time, meaning if assignments are already completed and there is no work left to do, boredom levels rise. 

As of August, MCPS has promoted the need for an “All-Day Away Phone Policy” to be implemented. But will this truly be beneficial toward the success of students, or is it too excessive? Ms. Welton, a psychology teacher at B-CC, said, “If students had lockers or cubbies to put their phones in class it would be great because we would have a lot more focus and interactions between students.” This idea aligns with the rules set in place at Whitman, and Ms. Welton is supportive of taking further actions at B-CC to prevent disturbance and be actively present in class. When students are on their phones during instruction, it makes teachers’ jobs very difficult. With students not using their phones in class, it promotes a more focused environment: “I notice a lot more eyes up,” said Ms. Welton.

The question is if students would prefer MCPS to take considerable action to further go about the implementation of stricter rules or if they are content with a more trusting approach regarding the demand of phone policies?