“Phones away” is a common phrase in the classroom at the present time. Most kids nowadays have a cell phone. Oftentimes these devices can become a distraction, yet students insist on having them nearby. 

“For some people, they can get a little bit distracting,” junior Nayeli Esparza said. “I understand why some teachers take them, but all in all you have to know which students will do well with them and which won’t, and not punish everybody for having their phones.”

Smart phones are most certainly a source of distraction for many students against their schoolwork. It is particularly easy to get caught up in the excitement of things other than learning, especially when the subject is uninteresting.

“I think a lot of people need their phones because people have family emergencies, and they can’t take care of it because they can’t have their phones,” junior Colton George said. “For certain people, they should be more lenient because they could have health issues that their phone records or just family problems.”

Everyone has a diverse background, and the phone can be a connection to life outside of school. Some people may need it on them to make sure things are all well.

“Some parents don’t want to go directly to the office if it’s just like something short that they need to tell their student,” Esparza said. “My mom will sometimes text me, ‘Hey your sister is staying after school don’t pick her up,’ and I probably don’t want to go walking down to the office to figure that out; I would rather just read a text real quick.”

It is the opinion of many that schools should have less strict rules about the phone to ensure safety and efficiency for everyone.

“[With phones] They can access stuff that their computers won’t allow them to access,” junior Shannon Jack said. “I think they should be more lenient because some kids actually use their phone for good.”

Students can use their phones during class when the teacher permits them. They can be useful and quick calculators, timers, or for when a student does not have their computer with them.

“I feel like phones have naturally been more absorbed into society and it’s a more natural thing to have it always wih you,” Esparza said.

The smart phone is an essential part of communication in the modern day. It has become a necessity in some ways to the life of many.  

“I feel like sometimes it can be a distraction but for the most part kids are just on them when they’re not supposed to be,” junior Angelina Bontadelli said. “Some people are addicted for sure, like they make it their whole personality, but for the most part I wouldn’t say there is a major addiction to them.”

The usage of phones in school has been one of controversy from the beginning. No matter what the teachers say, of course, there are always a few students who break the rules. They are great tools, yet become distracting when the whole internet is at the fingertips of bored teenagers who would rather watch videos than do the newest algebra homework.