Phones have been a big part of our day-to-day lives for a while now. There are people of all ages who have slowly become addicted to their smartphones. Schools have had to face the challenge of balancing the benefits of technology with the need to also minimize distractions and maintain a good and effective learning environment for students. 

Students and staff at Lake Shore High School have mixed opinions on the new phone policy. Some believe this new policy is beneficial to students and their education. Ella Smith, junior, happens to agree with the fact that it is beneficial to students. She states, “I think it makes students more productive, I think it’s a good thing.” She believes you should prioritize your schoolwork before focusing on your phone.  

Then, there are also some who believe that the new phone policy is absurd and unfair. Molan, Sophomore, states, “It’s absurd, and I don’t care.”

With seniors being around since there has been the least amount of enforcement regarding phones, to now there being the most, their opinions were important. 

Eliana Godin understands why they want to apply these rules but believe they are too strict. “I think for the most part it makes sense but they need to have more leniency,” Godin states.

The freshmen’s opinions were also very important, specifically for the comparison of their middle schools phone policy and Lake Shores phone policy. 

Aubrey Reves states, “It was worse, we couldn’t have anything in the hallways or lunch.”

Staff mostly had the same opinions as one another. They believe the new phone policy is beneficial for students. 

Campus monitor Jeff Valken thinks there is a time and place for phones during school hours. He states, “There just isn’t a need for it while a teacher is teaching or a presentation is going on, but hallways are a different story, passing time obviously, you guys are adults or are going to be adults and should be able to have your own phones.” 

Whether staff and students of Lake Shore High School believe phones are beneficial or unfair, the debate over whether phones should be allowed in school hinges on finding a balance between technology being beneficial and minimizing potential distractions. Even though smartphones can be good tools for learning and communication, they also have a harmful effect and are very distracting to students.