Wherever you see a teenager, you will more than likely see a cell phone in their hand. Cell phones have become something that many teenagers feel they cannot be without, a statistic that is increasing everyday with the help of advances in technology. Now that the increasing dependence on technology is encroaching into the classroom, teachers are beginning to lose patience with the students who break the rules to check or use their phone.
“It’s the same story every year,” said math teacher Srividhya Krishnasamy. “They have some reason to use their phone.”
During a poll taken in all lunches on Sept. 15, 86% of the 366 students polled said that they had a cell phone and 22% of the students said that they have had their cell phone confiscated at some point during their high school experience and 36% felt that teachers had become more strict about cell phones this school year. Only 20% said that they never text in class, the rest varied in their answers from rarely to always.
The school’s official policy regarding cell phones is on a sign in most classrooms for every AHS student to see. The sign reads, “No cell phones. Off and out of sight, at all times during the school day.”
“We’re determined to keep the cell phones out of the classrooms,” said history teacher Jonathan York.
The first violation, teachers are to confiscate the phone and it can be picked up after 2:00 in the front office by a parent. “I had it by my side, I was texting my mom to tell her I was going to be home late, and he (English teacher Christopher Bagot) was walking around. He came around behind me, he saw it and grabbed it without saying anything to me,” said junior Evan Washington.
The second violation, the same routine follows, but the student must additionally attend a Saturday detention. The third violation, the phone is confiscated and the student faces one to three days of out of school suspension. The phone will be returned to the student during the re-entry conference with their parents.
The first day of school, all teachers are supposed to discuss the cell phone policy, and many even add stricter rules onto it. The point is to explain to students that mobile devices will not be tolerated as they return from summer when there were no restrictions.
When a student is caught with a cell phone, there are a variety of excuses they read off to their teacher.
“I’m just checking the time”, “it accidentally turned on and I’m turning it off” or “it’s an emergency.” The most common one, which more often than not is actually the truth, is “my Mom or Dad is texting me.” If this excuse has worked in past years, it is not going to fly in many classrooms this year.
“If it’s an emergency, (the parents should) call the front desk,” said York. “The cell phone should not disrupt the classroom.”
Many of the students who are texting their parents feel it is necessary they respond. Parents set the example that their children follow, which is why many feel that it is okay to talk to their parents during the day. “I don’t text them often, but when I do it’s pretty important,” said Washington.
As the third week of school comes to a close, students are becoming readjusted to life where they cannot constantly check their mobile phones. Though the majority of students cannot wait for the bell to ring at 2:00 so that they can text their friends, many teachers still feel that cell phones are encroaching into our lives too much.
“I am a technology immigrant,” said York. “You guys are technology natives.”
