The cell phone policy at Seven Hills has easily been one of the most controversial and impactful policies to student life in recent history. After intensive research, deep interviews, and insights, I have concluded that the cell phone policy has been a positive policy for the school. I came to this conclusion because I decided that the positives of the policy outweigh the negatives.
There are three main positives to the cell phone policy: it increases students living in the present moment, it increases social interaction between students, and finally, it increases student’s productivity for getting work done during free time at school.
Let’s look at the first positive of the cell phone policy which is that it increases students living in the present moment. The first reason students living in the present moment is positive is because all that exists is the present moment. So, if you are not living in the present moment and focusing on the present moment, you will miss your entire life and not enjoy life as fully as you could. The second reason students living in the present moment is positive is because living in the present moment helps eliminate anxiety and fear. If we are constantly in our mind thinking about the past or future, we have more anxiety and fear. But when we switch our mind to focus on the present moment, we have less anxiety and fear and gain more calmness and peace. Spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle, when talking about how the present moment lowers anxiety and fear and helps you gain calmness and peace, said, “All negativity is caused by a denial of the present. Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry, and all forms of fear are caused by too much future and not enough presence. Calmness and peace have a big correlation to living in the present moment.” The next reason students living in the present moment is positive is because you can create a better future for yourself by living in the present moment. So, to recap, the cell phone policy increases students living in the present moment, which is a positive because living in the present moment helps you enjoy and live your fullest life, reduce anxiety and fear, gain more calmness and peace, and create a better future for yourself.
The second positive of the cell phone policy is that it increases students’ social interaction with each other. Students having more social interaction with each other is positive because it increases the number of friends that students have in the school and helps students know more information about each other. Teacher Andrew Neyer said, “I have seen students talking to each other during lunch and free bells and seem to be making more friends and getting to know each other more.” Students having more social interaction with each other is also positive because it helps students get exposed to new ideas and perspectives. Junior Charlie Dubay said, “I have been exposed to new ideas and perspectives regarding all types of topics in sports, education, and life in general.”
The third positive of the cell phone policy is that it increases student’s productivity for getting work done during free time at school. Student’s productivity for getting work done during their free time at school has increased because they cannot use their phones during their free time at school. Freshman Jelani Lewis said “I have noticed that my productivity for getting my homework done has increased during my free time at school because I’m not spending that time mindlessly scrolling and going on my phone.” Because of the students’ increased productivity for getting work done during their free time at school, their grades have also increased. Teacher and learning support specialist Ann Guillerman said, “I have seen a noticeable increase in students’ grades because they have increased their productivity for getting work done during free time at school.”
After conducting extensive research, engaging in in-depth interviews, and gathering valuable insights, I have determined that the cell phone policy has had a beneficial impact on the school. This conclusion is based on my assessment that the advantages of the policy surpass its drawbacks.
