The no phone rule started this school year at Rio Norte Junior High. The policy is that students are not allowed to go on electronic devices at all while on campus, including during brunch and lunch. Students who are 8th Graders right now in the 2023-2024 school year are not used to this because last year they were able to go on their phone. Unlike the 7th graders, they are used to it since the same policy applies in elementary schools.
Last school year, students were able to go on their phones during brunch and lunch. They enjoyed playing games, texting, or listening to music. However, they were not allowed to have it during class time. Students still went on their phone sneakily, and it soon got carried away where everyone was on their phone all the time. Administration then thought it would be best to have the no phone policy, so students were not able to go on them at all. All junior high schools in the William S. Hart Union School District agreed to implement no cell phone policies on their campuses. Assistant Principal, Mr Flores, said that one perk of the new policy is that if there was a fight, students are not able to post it online for others to see.
If a student is caught with their phone, it gets taken away and sent to the main office. Students can pick it up after school at 2:35. That’s the first penalty you get when you’re caught with it. The second time you get caught it will be taken up to the office and your parents will be notified to come get it. When you get caught for a third time, assistant principals, Mr. Flores or Mrs. August, will assign you to complete trash pick up at brunch and lunch and a parent/guardian over the age of 18 has to pick up your phone after school. Any other offenses of getting caught with a phone will result in a parent or guardian over 18 to pick up the phone and additional consequences would be assigned. If you get your phone taken for the 5th time then it’s a possible in-school suspension and additional consequences and a phone music contract with parent and student.
When you don’t go on your phone, it’s proven that it can help you focus better, get better sleep, decrease stress levels, and improve your mental health. It also decreases stimulation which helps you be more energetic. According to Butler.org, “It is shown that using phones causes 27% of kids to have a down crease in their mental health.” It’s also shown by therapybrands.com that using “Phones can cause at least 30% of kids under the age of 14 to fall into a depressed state.”
The phone policy has been going well so far and students are adjusting well. Some students try to sneak their phone during PE, or in the bathroom. But they do get caught, and it’s taken away. So far we have had neutral feedback on it, some students are enjoying the break from screen time, while others wish they could use their phones during brunch and lunch. It still isn’t certain if they’re going to keep it for years and years, but for now it will stay.