Rethinking Screens: A New Chapter for Cell Phone Use

Cell phones in schools have been a hot topic for the past few years nationally. It’s a decidedly hot topic, with many different opinions on how to handle cell phones in school—ban them completely or work with students to use them more responsibly. The trend was spurred by concerns over students’ mental health and emotional development, distractions in the classroom, social media use, bullying, and academic performance. NPR reports that in over half the country, there are now restrictions on cell phone possession and use in K-12 class settings. Over 35 states have enacted laws or policies that ban or restrict cell phone use in schools.

One of the main drivers of evaluating how cell phones are used in schools is the uptick of depression and anxiety in adolescents. The Atlantic reports that “rates of depression and anxiety in the United States—fairly stable in the 2000s—rose by more than 50 percent in many studies from 2010 to 2019."

Easier said than done. It’s a topic not without debate—it’s a complex issue fraught with concerns of safety and ability to communicate with parents. Many parents rely on cell phones to communicate with their children about daily activities, pick up times, and schedule changes during the school day. Some students also use their cell phones for calculator functions or as language translators.

The conversation has been going on for quite some time at The Governor’s Academy. At Govs, those in favor of broader cell phone access emphasized that phones are part of students’ lives now and will remain so in the future. Those in favor of more limits pointed to distraction, social media, and the need to protect focused academic time. Dean of Students Erin Davey notes, “Our schedule already offers students a mix of performing arts, group work, and individual work, and we’ve been clear from the start that phones don’t belong in the classroom.”

Over the course of eight months, the Dean of Students’ Office engaged in discussions with students and faculty before developing the cell phone guidelines that were adopted at the beginning of this school year. Davey says, “We spent a lot of time doing our homework. We looked closely at research on teen phone use and its connection to mental health and wellness. We also talked openly with students and faculty and took a hard look at our daily schedule to see what truly makes sense for our community. All of that helped us land on a decision that feels aligned with who we are as a school.”

So where did Govs land? Somewhere in the middle. The following guidelines were put in place at the beginning of this school year:

• In Classrooms: Technology may be used only with teacher permission and only when it directly supports learning. Otherwise, phones, computers, and tablets should be stored away and out of sight.
• In Community Spaces: In locations such as the Alfond Dining Hall, Chapel, and Wilkie Center—students are expected to put their phones away to be present with those around them.
• Communication with Families: To support student presence during the academic day and residential life routines, we ask families to communicate with students outside of class hours (8:15 a.m.–3:15 p.m.), afternoon programs, and evening study hall (8:00–9:30 or 10:00 p.m.), unless it is an emergency.
• Privacy, Safety, and Responsibility: Recording audio or video on campus is not permitted without express permission from the school. Exceptions may be made during official performances or events.
• Faculty and Staff Support: Faculty and staff are empowered to uphold these expectations.

For some teachers, none of this is a new practice. Science teacher Tracy Stickney P’23,’26,’28 has been holding phones in class for over 10 years now. “I do believe that the separation is really good for kids because it takes away the distraction that comes with having a phone nearby. Kids can focus and be present in class rather than be tempted to constantly check their screens,” she says.

Other teachers, like English Department Chair Steve Suomi P’27, would rather an outright ban on cell phones on campus, citing the sense of community at Govs, which he says can only flourish if we’re being present with each other throughout the day. He says, “I would love to see us as a community continue to move away from using our phones around campus. A phone-free environment is great in the classroom to help kids focus on academics, but I feel like it's even more important for our community to be without our phones in our social interactions. The Govs sense of community is what makes this place special, and that can only flourish if we are being present with each other throughout the day.”

He says that his classroom practice of having students put their phones on the windowsill has helped everyone remain focused on what is happening in class. He says, “It removes some of their (and my) anxiety about what’s happening with their phones. More importantly, it often forces them to chat with each other before and after class.”

Now that we are a few months into the school year, how do these guidelines look in practice? Cell phone use in the dining hall has decreased somewhat. In classrooms, cell phone use has greatly decreased, with some reporting notable increases in engagement, focus, and learning.

One thing is certain: with teachers and lawmakers constantly evaluating the effect cell phones have on students, our cell phone policy is sure to evolve with the times. Davey says, “We continue to evaluate our policy and remain committed to ongoing conversations about how best to support this age group and promote their mental health and well-being.”