Last school year, Thousand Oaks High School facility decided to step up the no phones policy. This comes after mass discussions nationwide about the usage of phones and its impact on student’s learning and well-being.
The removal of phones is not the correct step forward to move schools and students forward. Technology is the epiphany of the future. If we censor students of the right to technology, how can we effectively prepare the future civilians of the world?
In an interview with the American Psychological Association, Doctor Gloria Mark, a psychologist and the chancellor’s professor of informatics at the University of California Irvine, states attention spans are indeed decreasing. However, banning phones altogether does not address the issue, it restricts the possibility of teaching self-control.
Currently, some teachers have cell phone pockets, and the effectiveness of those has been put into question as well. Students have gotten a ‘bait phone’ to put in the pocket, and or even just only put their phone case in the pocket. It’s not a path that will go well if not introduced the right way, students will just find a loophole.
“Our research indicates that the frequent use of phones and other digital devices contributes to shorter attention spans, as constant notifications and the lure of social media can disrupt our focus and hinder our ability to engage deeply with tasks,” Mark said.
It’s a known fact that devices have shortened attention spans. However, banning phones does not teach students how to manage their use of technology effectively. Instead, schools should focus on integrating responsible phone usage into the curriculum, teaching students how to balance technology with their academic responsibilities.
Primary school is the place where students learn to become adults. If schools are restricting their ability to learn about an influential part of their life they will struggle. According to a report from the District Administration, a K-12 news platform for school district leaders, 88% of U.S. adults did not feel prepared when leaving high school for how to handle money.
In response, California has introduced legislation to have integrated financial literacy classes to prepare students for post-high school. Removing phones will have the same effect as not having these financial literacy classes. Keeping phones in the hands of students will be the only way that these students will learn self-control.
To add, cell phones are one of the only ways that students can reach out to friends, parents, and other significant others. According to the California Department of Education, the average enrollment of a High School is 1,282 students. Let’s be real, it’s not the 80s anymore, cell phones via social media and messaging apps are the way that people find each other and stay in touch. Removing communication is the literal first step when you fight an enemy in war.
Some may say that phones and social media may advocate bullying, but discrimination has been going on since school began – removing phones will not change that. People will go back to the ‘old days’ of pestering. Removing a form of communication will set us back.
The cell phone ban across the Conejo Valley Unified School District will be one of the biggest discussions the school board will have. The Los Angeles Unified School District has already approved banning cell phones all day on school campuses, starting in January 2025.
LAUSD is the second-largest school district in the nation. LAUSD is preparing to set the precedent for schools in the state and potentially across the nation.
Both the California Assembly and Governor Gavin Newsom have stated interest and begun action in cell phone removal.
The California Assembly has already passed bill AB 3216 to limit and/or prohibit the use of smartphones on campus, 62 to zero.
The removal of devices is not an ideal situation due to the extensive amount of resources on phones and our reliance on them in the future. Students should learn self-control in high school on their own. Moderation should be the plan going forward, not complete removal.
Removing phones will not remove a student’s addiction. That release of dopamine will still be there and students will aim to receive it through a different avenue.
