Point Counter-point: Phone-policy at OHS

OHS Magnet writers discuss the phone-policy at OHS. However, the writers’ opinion is independent of the OHS administration and the Owatonna Public Schools.

Jace Forcelle, Editor

October 25, 2023

The argument between continuing the phone-policy and implementing no-policy at OHS.

Design by Jace Forcelle

Continuing the phone policy benefits students

Asha Abdi

Phone usage during classes is an issue all over the world, even OHS. When a student has their phone in their pocket, they will feel the vibration notification and naturally they will want to check it even though their teacher is in the middle of a lesson which is a big issue with teens attending the Owatonna High School. In the past cell phones have been used for cheating, for example, students could take a picture of a test and send it to multiple people. So that’s one of the reasons why schools have phone policies intact just like here at the Owatonna High School.

The phone policy at OHS is that students must place their phone in their backpack or locker during the class period. If the student does not follow the guidelines, the student has to provide the phone to the teacher. Furthermore, the teacher would keep the phone for the remainder of the class. If a student refuses to hand the phone to their teacher, students could receive an office referral or additional consequence from staff members. If they continue to not follow these guidelines, the consequences are that students would be unable to have their phone throughout the school year.

Students have multiple different opinions on the phone policy, but it also extends to teachers.

Teachers at schools are also affected by the phone policy and how the students respond to it. OHS math teacher Mr. James Dahlgren said, “I think students are more engaged or with us in class, they participate more, I feel like they are more social. They’re more positive, better attitude as opposed to always kind of being locked into your phone.” The phone-policy benefits students by preventing distractions in the classroom. And when a student even takes a second to check their phone, it will take 25 minutes to gain their full attention back to what you were learning. This can extend to benefiting students’ grades test scores.

Phone policies at schools better the students and increase their academic performances.

There are many different ways that having set boundaries with phones during school can help students. According to the National Education Association, students’ test scores increase when they are more focused in class. Furthermore, students had greater attention spans. Sophomore Kayla Jensen said, “I feel like the phone policy is better helping me pay more attention in class even though it can be difficult at times to not check my phone.” With the sudden urge to check your phone, the majority of students show to be successful during class while others struggle.

While not every student may or may not agree with having no phones allowed in class, the phone-policy exists to support students academically and mentally. At OHS, students have shown that they participate more and have more of a better understanding of what they are learning inside of the classroom.

OHS should implement the no-phone policy.

Adopting new-phone policy at OHS

Angel Barajas

The new OHS comes with its own new rules and policies. One of the new policies that the OHS has adopted is the no-phone policy, which means you are supposed to leave your phone either in your locker or in your backpack during school hours and especially during class. The school administration would rather students try their best to have students leave them in their lockers the entire day.

The no-phone policy was taken from the Owatonna Middle School’s “Away for the day Day” policy. The policy was implemented across the nation. The policy limited students from having their phones throughout the school day. Freshman Jaydon Anderson said, “Last year at the OMS we were not able to have our phones or at least go on them from 8:10 to 2:40, but I think it really helped me and others focus more due to the policy and it being distraction free.”

According to Screenagers, they found out that by banning phones, sixteen year old students had increased their test scores by 6.4 percent. Furthermore, the limiting of phone usage is to the improvement of test scores across the nation. Screenager also did a parent survey to see how many parents do not want their kids to have phones during school hours. Over one million parents completed the survey and 82 percent of parents said they would like no phones during school hours. In particular, parents and staff would rather not have phones during school hours so their children or students can focus.

Math teacher Mr. Kevin Stelter said, “I really appreciate the no-phone policy because it keeps the students more engaged during class time due to less distractions on their phones.” The no-phone policy helps keep students engaged and distractions free during class.

The no-phone policy has affected some students in many different ways. Junior Eliutd Martinez said, ”The no-phone policy isn’t too bad, it makes me focus more during class and when I leave it in the locker for the whole day it makes me focus even more and my grades are way better now than before. I am kinda attached to my phone, but with this new policy I have been doing better and I am more social with classmates.” The no-phone policy will have advantages and disadvantages, but it will impact students in the long run by improving their grades and social communication skills.

The new OHS has kicked off the year amazingly and there are new policies. They are there to help guide the student body to success and the no-phone policy is one of these things that will help students and staff be more school focused and get duties done.

OHS should implement the no-phone policy. (Design by Angel Barajas )