For the majority of teenagers, mobile phones are a vital aspect of their social and emotional lives. From waking up to check Instagram notifications to asking a friend where they’re eating lunch to setting an alarm for the following morning, phones have become rapidly intertwined into our everyday lives.

To combat cell phone distractions, the school district implemented a “bell-to-bell no cell” phone policy.

Whether detaching from a phone feels stressful or not, the policy is inevitably a good thing. 

Cutting off communication for a seven-hour period can be scary — and very stressful. While it may be difficult, the forced detachment can help foster healthier habits, encouraging students to engage more in classroom conversations.

Utilizing a phone at the rate many high school students do is unhealthy and must be monitored. As we enter the workforce, it will be important to recognize the appropriate times to use your phone — and when to put it away. 

Focusing on classwork and lectures throughout class rather than your phone can eliminate distraction and enhance academic performance. Per Study.com, 68% of educators in schools with strict mobile bans report improved classroom management.

Moreover, I believe the phone policy will overall improve student safety throughout the day. Many fights and physical altercations begin between students online — on social media or through texts — during or in between class. 

With that being said, it seems the phone policy is being enforced harder on underclassmen courses. Freshman Cooper Salmans said that out of all seven of his classes, the phone policy is enforced in six of them. For senior Josie Morris, she said only one teacher enforces the phone policy out of her five classes.

However, at times, it is important to be able to access phones in case of an emergency. For kids who need to contact their parents, track their blood sugars or monitor their health, it is important that accommodations are not only made, but recognized at the district level.

For underclassmen that still have more years to grow, the phone policy is a great way to eliminate lost learning time and improve attention span. Even when it becomes difficult, stressful or irritating, gaining years in a controlled phone environment will best prepare students for their next stages of academia and life.