Since the release of the iPhone in 2007 and all the advancements made to smartphones since then, the popularity and usage of smartphones has exploded. In fact, a study from the Pew Research Center showed that 95% of teens aged 13-17 have a smartphone, with 46% saying that they use them almost constantly. Smartphones have an unlimited potential for many tasks.
However, due to the heavy use of smartphones by teens and the distractions they cause, a critical question has risen in our school community: should smartphones be banned during school hours at Abington Friends School? Here’s why they shouldn’t and how it would do more harm than good.
Smartphones have been completely integrated into our lives, even for school uses. At AFS, we use our phones to check in on Ruvna, have easy access to our schedules and emails, tell the time, communicate with friends and teachers, and much more. A complete phone ban would upend these important uses of smartphones at AFS and would make our school run less smoothly.
Phones aren’t just for everyday use but also for the possibility of needing it for something more important. Nobody can predict when a more serious situation will arise. Should a specific person, or the whole school, be facing an immediate and dire safety situation, access to a smartphone may be crucial for contacting students, faculty, and even authorities, should they be needed at that time. Smartphones aren’t just for fun and games but for our safety, too.
I am opposed to a total ban on smartphones at AFS, and I don’t think there is a need for one anyway. I believe that the current phone policy works well. I support the requirement that all students must turn in their smartphones at the beginning of every class. It is very important for students to be focused on what is on the smartboard and not the smartphone.
It is possible that a ban on smartphones will lead to an increase in face-to-face interaction, but our community is so connected already, and there are other ways to make sure we stay that way, like Community Day and school-wide activities.
So, considering the many benefits of smartphones and the consequences of implementing a total ban at AFS, students should be allowed to use smartphones outside of class. We have seen how well the current policy works already. Why should we change it?
Jenny • May 30, 2025 at 10:36 am
I believe that prohibiting cell phone and device use at our classroom is troublesome in addition to being illogical.
First and foremost, since people would simply replace their phones with iPads and the like, it is absurd to ban them for the entire day. Additionally, it is irrational for us to use our phones in class. We must be clear about why we are handing over our phones before we can have a conversation about this. The most plausible explanation, in my opinion, would be to avoid phone distractions; nevertheless, unless they wanted to be detained, I doubt anyone would use their phones if the teacher forbade them. Additionally, iPads and computers may be just as distracting as phones because they serve essentially the same purposes, with the exception that phones may allow us to call people and dial numbers. This brings me to my next point, which is that phone bans are problematic.
mia • May 29, 2025 at 8:31 pm
I absolutely think that phones and devices can make us feel more disconnected from our community, and often when were together with others. sometimes I really feel that disconnect with my friends or family and there’s just that long stretch of silence where everyone is on their phone or every topic of conversation is related to the phone… but other times, I connect with my friends over a device, whether it’s watching something silly together or taking pictures or anything like that. I believe it’s all about balance and knowing when it’s a distraction and when it’s something fun. having schools in school is a bit of a different topic too, though, although I think it’s a bit unnecessary to ban them. we are living with our phones 24/7 outside of AFS and in the future, and it’s important to build healthy habits everywhere rather than avoid the problem until we graduate.
remy • May 29, 2025 at 7:57 am
I do agree that digital distractions like smartphones can make us feel less connected in person, especially when people are more focused on their screens than the people around them. However, I also believe it’s about how we choose to use our devices. I can agree to an extent that yes we are sometimes less connected because of digital distractions and devices but there are also many positives within the use of devices. There are many things in this world that distract us and while phones can be a big distraction they are also something we all use for many different useful things. Phones serve important purposes at school, from checking schedules to ensuring safety in emergencies. For me, finding balance means setting limits and I would say for myself personally I can get pretty distracted if I have my phone on me while I’m doing homework so I usually just try to turn on music and put it away until I’m done with what I have to do so im able to stay on task.