Throughout the past decade, technology usage has exponentially grown. Various individual necessities and obligations are now accompanied by cell phones. Excessive time spent on phones and other screen devices can withdraw from positive aspects of life, such as genuine communication for those around you. Anywhere you walk, phones can be seen all around: shopping at a mall, waiting in line to order food, or even at restaurants with friends and families. Phones have taken over our modern world, and it is not for the better.
The new phone policy that has preoccupied students at Seattle Prep is a very positive result of the phone usage observed at Prep as it keeps students fully engaged and active during the school day. As declared at student orientation, phones are not to be seen during school hours; and if a phone is out, a faculty or staff member has the right to take it away until the end of the school day.
Lane Gooding ’25 shared, “during class students remain focused as distractions are reduced.” Teachers are appreciative of the phone ban because it allows students to better focus in classes. Students are not anticipating notifications and waiting for responses during this time. Matthew Kennedy ’24, ASB President, noted “I can imagine being a teacher and feeling disrespected during a lecture if a student took their phone out so for the well-being and peace of mind of teachers – it’s much easier and they can focus on more important issues.”
Lunchtime, where students were previously permitted to productively use their phones, is now also a time where phones are banned. This has increased overall socialization as students do not have a screen to look at. This causes students to engage in genuine conversations and connections with each other and acknowledge one another. Gooding put it as, “the main change has been that students are forced to socialize during lunch as going on their phones is no longer an option.”
Ultimately, students are more aware of their surroundings as their heads are not drawn to staring at a screen. Ms. Slack was aware of this, “I do notice during transition periods and at lunch students are talking to each other a little bit more which I think is good and healthy for socialization.” Students are encouraged to appreciate each other a little more, by smiling in the halls and a quick hello here and there. Finally, Slack concluded, “there is more awareness of space when students cannot have their phones out.” Ultimately, students are better off during the school day as they are much more focused in the classroom, aware of their space, and collaborative and social with their peers.
