As many people have seen in their emails on Thursday, May 22, 2025, Vice Principal Leah Burns sent out a “cell phone survey” regarding the 2 new policies that are being considered for the 2025-2026 school year.

According to an article by the NEA (National Education Association) “As of September 2024, 15 states have passed laws or enacted policies that ban or restrict students’ use of cell phones in schools statewide. And seven of the nation’s 20 largest school districts forbid use of cell phones during the school day.” 

These 2 new policies being considered by Leominster are in reaction to an act passed by Massachusetts. This act promotes “safe” technology usage and a distraction-free learning environment for the youth.

One of these possible policies is a system called “off and away.” This means that ALL students’ cell phones are expected to be powered off and stored away for the entirety of the school day, which happens to include passing periods and lunchtime.

The other policy is called “Bell to Bell. This policy includes the idea of cell phones being securely stored upon entering the building. Assumingly by staff, these cell phones will be unavailable to any, and all students throughout the school day.

Now here comes my opinion. I believe that these policies will do us no good. It will cause office staff and students more trouble than we think. Staff will be responsible for getting information to and from students and parents and helping them communicate throughout the school day. These policies can also pose a safety hazard, as we’ve seen this country does not shy away from violence towards schools of any sort as school shootings are reported almost weekly.

If we happened to be in a situation such as that, the school would be liable for getting any, and all information to parents in a short period of time, which could in the end lead to many problems on the school’s part.

Another point in my opinion is that we don’t know what goes on in these kids’ lives. Many students sit alone at lunch, their phones are maybe one of the few things they use for entertainment because they have nobody around them.

I think this policy plan focuses on the wrong things.

Many students also use their phones as a way to focus better in school. I know I do. Sometimes I need a break after learning for 3 hours back to back. I take my phone and put some music on (the school has blocked Spotify on all chrome books so that’s not even in the picture) and I use the music to help me focus better on my work, it puts me in my zen.

Teachers need to do a better job of reprimanding certain kids instead of punishing all students because they have failed to keep students’ phone usage under control. If you can’t deal with kids, don’t be a teacher, it’s bad for both them and their students.

If they can’t keep their class off their phones when they ask or tell them to, they shouldn’t be in this field.

That’s all I have to say about this new phone policy and why it’s a step in the wrong direction for this school.

What are your opinions? Please add them to the comments.