On July 9, Missouri congress passed a law against the usage of personal devices in school. These devices have been a staple in student learning for years and has caused students and staff to make adjustments in their learning and teaching processes.
“The first week was really rough, because you’re not used to not being on your phone and everything,” senior Emily Clausner said. “But then it’s easier because you start talking to your friends more, you’re able to relax a little more because when you’re on your phone, you think you’re relaxing, but it doesn’t feel like it, and if you like reading you get more time to read.”
The phone ban can help bring students closer because they don’t have a device distracting them. But most students feel like it negatively affects the way they communicate with people outside of school.
“I’m mad that I can’t listen to music, but I’m also like pretty mad I can’t text like my dad or something while I’m in class if something important happens,” sophomore Emre Devecigil said.
Students dislike that they can’t use their phones during lunch because they don’t have much to do while eating and prefer having something to entertain themselves with while eating.
“I think certain aspects of being on your phone are fine, like during lunch and during free time like after you finish your work,” Clausner said.
Many students believe that they are being too strict about the ban, and they could make some adjustments to it that would help students as well as teachers.
“I think it won’t really impact us since I mean people are just gonna find other ways to distract themselves,” Devecigil said. “But now that we can’t actually learn how to use our phones for learning purposes and stuff, it might be harmful.”
