Phone Jail is a good thing – Camila
One of the most controversial and highly enforced rules teachers have implemented in every classroom at Cathedral is what they like to call “phone jails”. Hanging by the door of every classroom, these jails are intended to keep students focused on their schoolwork and not get distracted by their phones. I think having the phones in these caddies is better than having to put your phone in your backpack.
One of the main benefits and the reason why “phone jails” were implemented this year is that it minimizes the temptation to check them during class.
Religion teacher Cece Kasberg says, “Students can still be distracted by their phone if it is in their possession and proximity because it’s still a temptation to try to sneak it out or check it. By completely putting it away in the phone caddy, there should be a sense of freedom and relief that allows you to be more present in the classroom.”
As Mrs. Kasberg said, if our phones were in our backpacks, I feel it would be really easy for me to just give into that temptation and grab my phone to check any notifications I might have or just have a quick look on social media. Having a designated spot for the phones, away from reach, can help students stay focused on the task at hand rather than distracting themselves and others.
Without our phones readily accessible, we are more likely to participate in class discussions and activities. With fewer distractions from not only our cell phones but other students’ phones, we could find it easier to concentrate on classwork, creating a more productive learning environment.
Having our phones kept in the caddy is not only important during the entirety of a class but especially during school assemblies or masses. I remember the last few years during All-School Mass, students were caught with phones in their hands, causing some disturbance because of it. Teachers had to go and confiscate their phones, attracting a lot of attention to the situation which then distracts all the other students surrounding them. By leaving our phones in the caddy, we are more likely to pay better attention to the speaker and presentation. By collecting them, teachers can help ensure that students remain focused on the assembly and its content, signaling to students the importance of being respectful of the event and those speaking.
Another point that I think is important to add, is the way that it prevents students from having their phones confiscated and sent to SIT. If we kept our phones in our bags, I feel we would probably just continue to pull them out and use them. If we get caught using our phones, it will most likely be sent to SIT. Having our phones in phone jail prevents this from happening. Getting to use your phone during the passing period and lunch is better than not getting to use your phone at all. Kasberg says, “Bottom line is we want you to excel while you’re at Cathedral, and one of the ways we can help you succeed is to minimize distractions.”
Trust the Backpack – Olivia
This year, teachers have been much more strict about the phone policy. As soon as students enter the classroom, they are required to put their phones in a caddy on the wall.
While I do understand that students being on their phones during class has become a significant issue, I think that the problem should be handled a bit differently: students should be allowed to put their phones in their backpacks during class.
High school is meant to provide students with more self-accountability rather than authoritative control. At my grade school, students were required to have a form signed by themselves and their parents in order to be allowed to bring them to school, and if they were out at any point during the day, they would be confiscated and forbidden from bringing their phones to school again.
When I arrived at Cathedral, I was excited at the prospect of being able to have more freedom and take responsibility for any violations or bad choices that I may make. This strict phone policy takes away some of that freedom, making high school feel more like middle school again.
I don’t necessarily have a problem with putting our phones away during class, but rather with the principle behind this new wave of phone restrictions. I believe that students should be entrusted with the responsibility of keeping themselves off of their phones, rather than just being told to. Many Cathedral students, including myself, are heading off to college next year. We need to learn how to set limits for ourselves because we won’t have professors telling us to put our phones away during classes or lectures.
Cathedral is a college prep school. I believe that an essential part of preparing high school students for college is allowing them to have self-accountability. If we are on our phones during class, teachers should be allowed to confiscate them, but we deserve to at least have a chance to prove our own responsibility.
