On Aug. 22 the Carlsbad Unified School District established a new cell phone policy. While it was intended to free students from distractions, many students have concerns about this policy and what it entails. Some students, however, believe that cell phones are beneficial in a school environment in moderation and should not be completely cut off.
This policy has upset many students for various reasons. Some students worry that they will not have their phones during an emergency, and others are distraught over the loss of listening to music during independent work. CHS junior Gabriella Miller feels very strongly about the drawbacks of this policy.
“I don’t think it’s a great thing,” Miller said. “I think a lot of students concentrate more when they’re able to use their cell phones to listen to music. They don’t necessarily have to be on their phones all the time, that’s obviously a bad habit.”
The general purpose of the cell phone policy is to eliminate distractions created by cellphones during class. Many students, however, feel they should be able to keep their cell phones and monitor their use of them on their own without having them taken.
“Most students are smart enough to know that you shouldn’t just be on your phone the whole class,” Miller said. “But it’s okay to listen to music, and I feel like they took that part of our education that helps so many people concentrate and do their work more efficiently.”
While the loss of listening to music is troubling, there are many more drawbacks to this policy. Students may not be able to send important messages to friends and family and even miss receiving them.
“One time I was in my physics class, and my friend was gonna take me home, but something came up and she had to leave early,” Miller said. “I was not able to tell my parents that I needed a ride home because I didn’t have my phone, and I ended up having to wait an extra hour after class for a ride home.”
The downsides of this cell phone policy have not gone unnoticed by the CHS staff. Assistant principal Aimee Nava has had many meetings with the administration over the summer to discuss the new policy. Nava voices her standing on this policy and states what Carlsbad’s main goals for the school are.
“Our number one focus is on creating a safe and great learning environment,” Nava said. “But the second one is really about creating personal connections with each other and having face to face conversations.”
While students believe that technology-free time is important, they also believe there are many times when cellular devices are needed. Nava states that the privilege of listening to music will no longer be a possibility with the new policy, but students may go see a counselor and get a personalized education plan if necessary.
“Students always have the option of talking to their counselors or their parents if it’s a true need for their educational services,” Nava said. “We have services in place, such as individualized education plans, that call for that.”
The use of cell phones at CHS will continue to be a controversial topic between administration and students. Both Nava and CHS students believe that finding a balanced approach that respects both educational goals and personal freedom will be crucial in resolving this ongoing disagreement.
“Every student I have talked to about the cell phone policy has not appreciated it,” Miller said. “Myself and many others see it as a loss of independence.”
