By John Salvatore
With the ban of all cell phones in New York state via an executive order from Governor Hochul, comes a remodeling of school life for high schoolers across the state. This ban did come with some leeway that is dependent on the school’s stance on the issue. School boards are allowed to vote in favor of times deemed “exceptions” where the use of a cell phone is justified. Unfortunately for Irvington, the board has thrown out most of these justifications.
Firstly, by removing students’ ability to use phones for educational purposes comes the removal of an amenity which has positively reshaped the classroom. From submitting work to accessing resources wrongfully blocked by the district, cell phones have proven invaluable in specific instances. Can’t teachers attest to this function? Hasn’t the freedom of phones been critical in assignments which the rigid Chromebooks can’t handle?
Secondly, the district hasn’t offered much certainty as to when this ban is in effect. The phone bans are clearly banned during classes, though whether this extends to 9th period for (non music students) wasn’t made clear in the student guide on the policy. It seems so as some students have been told to put their phone away after 8th period in the academic commons. However, you can still notice many phones in the academic commons come 9th period. Obviously, for uninformed students to be judged based on information they were never supplied is an unjust exercise of power.
“The Dean had just walked in and told me to put my phone away and that he didn’t want to see it again,” said 10th grader Liam Wade while in the academic commons after eighth period. It seems like the school is definitely in favor of these changes, as they seem to not be taking advantage of any loophole to increase the freedom of the students.
Absolutes can never fully account for an issue. The board needs to acknowledge that solutions are complicated, and that an multi dimensional conflict like that over cell phones is something that can’t be properly addressed with large inflexible policy.
Unarguably, the ban of internet connecting devices is a massive change to the school culture and system of learning and one which may soon be proven destructive.
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