It has officially been a semester since the state of Texas insisted that all personal communication devices were forbidden on school grounds.
Following the restriction, opinions have begun to change. Some students still harbor negative feelings towards the lack of communication, while others believe it is beneficial and helps their work ethic.
“I’m more lenient towards the ban,” senior Allexis Dantonio said. “I’m not as angry as I was the first day. I’ve been getting my work done on time, but I’ve also not been able to do certain things that I like whenever I have free time.”
While students abide by the rules, they have voiced certain problems with the law, even after a semester.
“I feel like it causes problems with friends and rides, not being able to use our phones during the day,” junior Adrienne Martinez said. “I also miss being on TikTok, texting my friends, watching videos and taking pictures.”
Staff, however, have had no complaints with the law thus far. Many describe it as beneficial, and claim that the school is adjusting well to the changes.
“It has definitely made things easier because I don’t have to make reminders all the time, when the tardy bell rings, to put phones away,” English teacher Heather Preston said. “Students come in with phones already away. I’m not seeing students try to sneak a peek at their phone in the classroom, so that’s been great. As an English teacher, I’ve seen a lot more books being checked out from the library, so that’s been an added advantage.”
Administration has felt that students have adapted to the cell phone policy. Before the state law, the district’s policy discouraged phones in class, but students could use them at lunch and in passing periods.
“I think at the very beginning there were a lot of phones, earbuds and airpods confiscated because the law was new and kids were testing the waters,” assistant principal Robert Forney said. “We had days when there were five or more confiscated. Now it has definitely slowed down and not as many devices are being confiscated.”
Parents have also played a huge role in cooperating with the ban. With their help, the school is able to ensure that picking up the phones goes smoothly, and that punishments for students getting caught with a phone are reasonable.
“We have guidelines as to what time they (parents) can pick them (the phones) up,” receptionist Rebecca Gomez said. “At those times, it’s sort of a quiet time. Some parents have been unhappy because they should have their phones. But, not all of them, of course. Just a small percentage.”
Even with a few mixed opinions, the majority of feedback toward the Texas law has been positive, both student-wise and staff-wise.
