A few weeks ago, during morning announcements, Mr. Nolan announced the possibility of a law that would ban phones in school.
Due to the noticeably excessive internet usage, Indiana House Bill 141 and Senate Bill 185 have been proposed which would require all schools statewide to ban cell phones within the classroom. However, since phones have been banned at MHS essentially since they became portable, it would encourage other schools to adopt policies similar to ours.
The bills have not been passed yet, but according to Mr. Michael Gordon, having statewide support is not a bad thing. There are senators and representatives from Indiana who have been pushing to pass this bill in favor of future generations education.
“Having the rule doesn’t get rid of all phones, but that doesn’t mean we should get rid of the rule,” Mr. Gordon said.
Cell phones are constantly just out of reach; in a backpack, pocket, wherever it was last set down. This new bill is one step in the right direction towards helping teenagers learn to moderate their screen time. But what about smart-watches, airpods, and personal devices like computers?
“I don’t understand the bans on A.I. or phones, because Google is A.I.” Luna Gutierrez said. “I think that the administration needs to adapt to the new world instead of trying to restrict things we already have access to, and utilize them instead.”
Mr. Gordon says that cell phones pose a distraction even when students aren’t actively using them. A little buzz or vibration can pull an entire classes’ attention away and push them towards taking a quick peek at their own device.
Cell phones and media are unavoidable—students and teachers use their phones whether it’s for educational or entertainment purposes. Websites like Canvas, Powerschool and Google Drive, which can be accessed from students pockets, serve to educate and inform, but just one click away is Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram reels that suck people into a never-ending cycle of doom-scrolling. During a conversation regarding the complicated perspectives surrounding the ban Mr. Nolan compared banning cell-phones in school is like putting a napkin on a lake.
“It’s a simple attempt to solve a complex problem. We realize what we have done with these devices in a very short time frame and the effects it’s having on mental health for young people and adults,” Principal Morgan Nolan said. “We gave you these addictive devices that are going to cause you mental health issues, but don’t worry, for 7.5 hours of the day we’ll tell you you can’t use them.”
