STARTING off the school year with Granger’s new phone policy has been very controversial amongst students. There are very different opinions about the benefits of Yondr pouches. Many believe that being allowed phones can have positive effects on both students and staff. Teachers often express all the negative effects that phones have on students, but not many talk about all the benefits phones could provide to students.
Phones can provide many benefits to students, by making it easy to look up homework information and class projects. Phones also allow students to quickly contact their parents if needed and give them freedom at lunch.
Ease of access to camera and music apps is one of the main arguments in favor phones in schools. One of the teachers making this argument is Ms. Heinecke, an art teacher at Granger. “Phones are useful for resources and music. It’s really important for taking photos in my class specifically,” Ms. Heinecke said. Art students use phones in a helpful way for references and inspiration. Without being able to use phones as a tool, it has been difficult and inconvenient for these art students to create their art pieces.
Other than sources for inspiration, phones offer apps for calculators, timers, and other vital classroom tools. These apps are often used in our science classes. Ms. Hess, who teaches physics at Granger can attest to this, “Cell phones can be helpful in class, they contain tools for sure, especially in physics,” Ms. Hess said. Phones are helpful in physics with the math part of the course. “They’re great for timers and videos in physics, but a lot of students struggle with phone management,” Ms. Hess said.
Certain courses at Granger seem to require phones for some activities. In her physics class, Ms. Hess unlocks student’s Yondr pouches for labs that require the tools on a phone. For example, in one lab, she opened up the pouches that were needed for timers.
Phones are more than just toolboxes; there are scenarios where phones are specifically needed. The advanced commercial photography class at Granger includes the teaching of how to transfer photos from phones to computers. Through its curriculum, students are supposed to learn how to transfer photos using their phones. With the new phone rules, it is difficult for students to learn this skill.
Although students are expected to follow through with phone regulation rules, teachers are not held to the same standard. Many wonder why teachers are not asked to use Yondr pouches as well. “I think everybody is terrible at phone management — adults, too,” Ms. Hess said.
While everyone could reduce distractions by locking their phones, locked pouches won’t work for teachers because they need their phones during emergencies and to take attendance during evacuations and drills.
Phone management skills are needed at school because it is important to stay focused and do well in classes. Having phones on silent and off during class will keep students from being distracted and distracting each other.
Overall, students continue to hope for a change in the phone policy. Many are looking forward to going back to a school environment that allows phones, but this is not likely to happen. “They’ll probably run it for like a full year before they think of changing up the policy,” Ms. Henicke said. For this year at least, Lancers will have to get used to Yondr pouches and phone-free lunches.
