Over the past few years, the question of whether students should be allowed to carry cell phones throughout their school day has risen to an all-time high. 

Although many students believe they should be able to carry them, some teachers don’t see the potential or the need for cell phones as they won’t be used during class. 

“I don’t want them out in my classroom,” Algebra II teacher Natalie Trimmer said. 

According to The Harvard Gazette, “The mere presence of a smartphone can undercut learning.”

Throughout the school day, students can be found on their phones before homeroom, during class changes, during lunch, leaving school, the chances to have them out are endless. However, some students blatantly disregard these rules and regulations. 

Students are able to be on their phones before and after school, but they aren’t during the school day. Students are expected to keep their phones in their lockers during school. Students don’t need their phones during the school day. Anything they could possibly need, such as a calculator, Google, classwork or to reach out to a friend, can all be done on Chromebooks. 

Teachers and students alike are against the idea of having phones in school. 

“It is a bad idea, because the negatives of having our phones outweigh the positives. We already have our Chromebooks, therefore we don’t need our phones,” sophomore Isabella Abbott said. 

 Trimmer doesn’t believe students should be allowed to use their phones during class. 

“I feel like it’s a slippery slope. No, I don’t think I would [allow students to have their phones out]. I don’t think I would let them use it even at the end of the class because it’s more important to me that they’re engaging with their peers or in their work than staring at their phones,” Trimmer said. 

Social media has had a negative impact on students and their school day. Social media, though it has had many wonderful benefits to society, has also increased in its negative effects as well. By having the ability to be on their phones during the school day, and therefore having access to social media, this could lead to more problems than solutions. 

“I think [students’] increased access to social media would just cause social problems, personal fights and things like that that can be avoided if they don’t have access to those things during the school day,” Trimmer said. 

Although many teachers are against having phones in classes and throughout the school day, some students are as well. 

Technology is a large part of everyday life. In school and out of it. However, some forms of technology aren’t needed during the school day and can be saved for after. Students having and being on their phones won’t just cause issues with attention and concentration, but also social and situational problems. 

Times aren’t always easy, and high school isn’t either. However, if students are on their phones during the school day, there lies the risk of more fights and more issues than ever faced before. 

Phones themselves aren’t a bad thing. They can be wonderful and helpful. But, during a school day, students are meant to be learning not playing games or engaging on social media. Instead, if they wish to engage, they can gain social interaction with the people around them.