Last week, Governor Phil Murphy paid a visit to Ramsey High School, where he signed a law banning all non-academic cellphone use in K–12 public schools throughout New Jersey. Although the law does not go into effect until next school year and the state has not released specific information on how it will be enforced, there have already been ideas circulating around River Dell and plenty of strong opinions.
Casey Morgner, a junior at River Dell, believes that “Students are so used to having their phones all the time. Just taking them away might cause stress.” She emphasized that phones are a way for her to communicate with her sisters and family throughout the day and check her personal email.
Casey added that, like many students at River Dell, she works after school. Throughout the day, her boss sends out shifts that she would not have been able to claim if she did not have access to her phone.
Junior Catherine Pollinger feels that “Phones are not the biggest issue in schools.” She worries that if something were to happen in school, she would not be able to contact her parents immediately.
Pollinger also discussed the phone holders already present in classrooms and how simply having them available makes phones less of a distraction, even if students do not always use them.
Alessia Guttilla, another junior, agreed with Catherine. “The phone holders definitely work; teachers just need to enforce them better.”
She also expressed concern about not being able to contact her family during an emergency and believes that the holders currently in classrooms would give students more control to communicate with their parents in a serious situation.
The fact that no definitive decisions have been made by the state has caused more discussion among students, with many feeling that the policy seems rushed and unnecessary. Will the school have to invest in Yondr pouches, like Ramsey did, or will there be another solution?
Vice-Principal Ms. Correa believes that some type of pouch system will be enforced and said it would be nice to see students off their phones throughout the day. She also agreed that phones can be a distraction in the classroom.
However, with phone use being limited in classrooms Mrs. Correa stated, “The reality is that phones are a way for this generation of students to decompress throughout the day,” which is something many students can relate to.
Even though there is still uncertainty about how limited phone use will be next year, one thing is certain: everyone is going to have to get used to not having their phones in school.
