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Every day in class, it happens without fail. A student reaches into their pocket for their phone, only to remember it is no longer an option. The NS administration has made changes to policies, and one of the biggest changes prohibits the use of electronic devices during class time.
If a staff member sees a student with an electronic device, they are required to take it. Each time the student loses a device, it counts as an offense.
The teacher must also communicate with the front office and tell them that the student is coming to drop off the device. This is to ensure the student goes straight to the office. At the end of the day, the student can pick up their device.
For the second offense, the student’s parent or guardian must come pick up the device at the end of the day. For the third offense the parent must come to the front office and have a meeting with an administrator to get the device back. For the fourth offense and so forward, there will be consequences determined by the administrator.
This decision came as a result of teachers realizing just how much damage device use was causing in class.
“We sent out a bunch of google form surveys to teachers, and it was kicked around since about Christmas of last year,” Vice Principal Ryan Syme said. “The teachers wanted this.”
Research shows that excessive cellphone usage can be extremely harmful to teenagers and their development and growth. Students were consistently distracted and used phones as an escape from the stress of school, avoiding what the idea of an education is supposed to be.
The student handbook states, “Data consistently shows that electronic devices are a distraction to learning and result in lower student achievement.”
For many students at NS, life without cell phones is foreign and difficult.
“I think that growing up with them always being there we haven’t really learned how to live without them,” senior Shea Rawlinson said.
While the change has been challenging for some students, others have found it has helped them get out more and helped them to be more social.
“I’ve gotten to know a lot more kids that I’ve been going to school with for six years,” Rawlinson said, “I think the new cell phone policy has something to do with it.”
Not only have students previously lacked connection and social skills, but devices were also used as a way to keep up with everything going on, all the time.
“I feel like [students] have a constant fear of missing out,” language arts teacher Alex Bailey said. “I feel like a lot of kids have a need for external validation.”
So far the policy has worked well. Teachers haven’t had to take too many phones away, and the administration is pleased with the changes.
“I’ve been so incredibly impressed with the students,” Principal Christy Straatman said.
