The 2024-2025 school year started with Green Hope administration implementing a new technology policy across the school. Returning students may be surprised to find this new policy taking place across their classes.

As school doors opened and students filed into their respective classrooms on the first day of school, they were required to place their cellular devices into phone caddies. Some new and returning students were unaware of the new policy, and how it could affect their daily routines at school.

New year, new policy 

On the Green Hope 2024-2025 Family Guide, issues regarding cell phone usage was outlined, claiming it had “a negative impact on long term retention of learning and test scores.” The school decided that cellular devices cause distractions during class time and pull student attention away from the teacher. 

The cellphone debate has been ongoing among students, teachers and parents for several years, with varying opinions across the board. Some teachers and parents believe that phones can diminish academic performance while students view them as a way to stay connected to parents or help with classwork. Some research in education and psychology has indicated that cellphone usage can reduce concentration. 

School boards across the country have taken decisive actions that attempt to limit the usage of devices during class. In early August, the California State Superintendent called for cellphone-free classrooms in a press release. 

According to the Green Hope policy, students may use cellphones or listen to music if instructed by a teacher to do so, but must obey the policy otherwise. Any parents who may want to contact their child in an emergency will have to first call through the front office.

Student perspectives 

Green Hope sophomore Jenna Lipkin (27’) said that the new cellphone and technology policy has a negative impact on her days at school. “The cellphone policy is affecting my time at Green Hope,” she said, adding that perceptions on the policy varies from student to student, with some seeing devices as a beneficial tool. 

Other criticisms add that the policy is a restriction of freedom and student contact with parents. A question that arose for parents is the problem of how to stay in contact with their child during emergencies. Many students use a Chromebook device that is distributed throughout the school district. Lipkin explained that communication wasn’t an issue for her because she uses a personal MacBook but, “I know that if I didn’t have a computer that it would be hard for me to reach my mom in emergencies.” 

Adjusting to change

The school found it best to try and eliminate the distraction that has kept so many students unfocused in class and this policy is only to be functional during class time, so during lunch students are still allowed to have access to their phones. 

Although many have different opinions on the subject, Green Hope administration hope that this new policy will be beneficial to students. Based on the resource guide provided by Green Hope, the use of technological devices by teens and adolescents can provide negative impacts on mental health.

While no consensus is reached by students, staff and parents, the policy will continue to be implemented.