One of the most recurring stories I had seen over the summer was about the cell phone ban. At first, the idea of not having my phone meant no music, no quick messages to friends, and sitting in uncomfortable silence with the people at my table. But over time, after actually living the ban, I’ve learned its value: It improves my focus, strengthens my ability to socialize, and increases productivity.
On the first day, the change felt palpable. Classrooms were silent, and teachers no longer had to compete for students’ attention. According to a study done by Yondr, taking phones out of the school environment led to positive improvements in academics and behavior. Schools using Yondr pouches saw a 14.9% increase in academic scores for grades 6-12 as well as a 44% decrease in monthly behavioral referrals. Students were actively participating in class discussions and more present with their environment. Cyberbullying rarely leaked into the classroom. Although Fort does not use Yondr pouches specifically, I noticed similar improvements in student focus and behavior in the classroom.
Another unexpected change was my eagerness to socialize. Usually, when it came to turning and talking with a partner during class discussions, I would go on my phone and pretend to be busy. Now, without a screen to hide behind, I found myself more open to face-to-face conversations. Even during my free periods, I would fill the time by getting a head start on my homework.
Additionally, a study published in the journal Environment and Behavior found that when a phone is present, even if it is just on the table, it negatively impacts the quality of one’s conversations. In the experiment, pairs who were interacting with a phone on the table reported less connectedness than the pairs without a phone on the table.
Still, the phone ban has made certain parts of the school day more challenging.
Communication between students and teachers has, at times, become frustratingly difficult. There were countless times when my teacher would post important announcements—that they forgot to mention in class—at 8:00 AM, but I’m unable to check it since I enter the building at 7:20 AM. The ban has motivated me to retreat to traditional organization. During sophomore year, I relied on an app called “Saturn” to track class periods and key events. Now, I carry around a paper schedule, write the start and end times, along with the Google Classroom codes, and make full use of my Fort Hamilton planner.
Even with all these inconveniences, the cell phone ban is something I’ve ultimately come to accept. In just a short period of time, it helped me become more attentive, more connected and more approachable.
