At the start of the 2023-24 school year, Lincoln Public Schools instated a new policy regarding personal devices in the classroom. The policy’s rules state that student’s phones must be out of sight and silent, with the threat of further consequences if the phone is seen. The policy removes the opportunity for students to learn how to use their phones responsibly in class and is setting them up for failure in college and the workforce.

“I worry that in the long term, students will be going into jobs and college classrooms without anyone to remind them to put their phones away,” John Holen, Oral Comm teacher and Debate coach, said. “This means they will have to learn when is and is not an appropriate time to use their phone. Most jobs allow people to listen to music and many careers even require that employees use their phones to do the job. My concern is that people who have only ever had others tell them when they can and cannot use their phone will struggle to self-regulate in these situations.”

Students agree with their teachers. The phone policy claims to be helping students succeed and focus in class, but it seems it is having the opposite impact.

“If students are on their phone that should be on them,” Maura Kimble, an AP Psychology student, said. “I think taking our phones away makes me want to be on my phone even more. I also think that giving us the responsibility of having our phones in high school will better prepare me for college when we will have the freedom to do so. I want to be seen as responsible enough to handle my own devices.”

Juniors and seniors are just a few years, even months, away from college, and teachers believe that they should be given a little more leniency with their phones.

“I think that teachers should be given a little more flexibility with older students specifically,” Holen said. “Namely, juniors and seniors should maybe be allowed to listen to music while working or use their phones as a part of an assignment. This would allow teachers to also teach positive behaviors that students will need in the real world.”

Although there are negative feelings about the policy, it has succeeded in one of its main goals, to create the same device expectations for each class and teacher.

“LPS is moving towards a district-wide cell phone guideline to increase consistency,” LPS’ device guidelines slideshow said. “It creates consistent expectations from classroom to classroom/teacher to teacher.”

Teachers have seen this as one of the better things to come from the policy.

“As a whole, I think it has been positive in the sense that it has led to better student focus and more uniform expectations,” Holen said.

The change in the phone policy seems to have some mixed feelings among staff, students, and the district. I personally believe that it is time for another change. We can’t go back to the leniency we had before the guidelines were instated, but we must allow students to take some responsibility for themselves.

“How am I supposed to act like a responsible adult in college when I am treated like an irresponsible little kid now?” Kimble said.