High schools across the nation are faced by the common threat of smartphones. Today’s society is currently living in an era ruled by technology, and high schools are challenged with managing smartphones in the classroom. Bellarmine Preparatory is not an exception. In order to combat the issue, Bellarmine has put in place stricter policies in hopes of creating a community that revolves around culture rather than technology.
As stated in Bellarmine’s 2023-2024 student handbook “Cell phones must be turned off and not visible on campus from the first bell for class that day and continuing through the end of the school day” (43). This rule aims to restrict phone usage all across campus, whether in or out of classrooms.
Contrastingly, a cause for many students’ and teachers’ confusion as the school year begins is the varying enforcements of the cell phone policy by different staff across campus. This newly initiated phone policy has overtaken conversations among the students. Along with a wide variety of reactions amongst the student body. Not only do students seem to have a variety of feelings regarding this new policy, the teachers do as well. In classrooms some teachers take phones as class begins. Some teachers don’t allow phones in the lunchroom. On the other hand, some teachers are very lax about the policy and find it less of a distraction.
Students gave feedback on their opinion of the policy and how it has been enforced in the beginnings of the school year. Many said, “It seems kind of hypocritical to the idea of a “prep school” because you’re allowed to use phones in college without repercussions. It’s up to a student to hold themselves accountable and be engaged in class. Those who want to go on their phone and be distracted are going to ind a way to do so with or without phones.” While it can be understood that phones are often a distraction in the classroom, students find it hard to adjust to the inflexibility to this new policy.
For more insight on the intent of the policy, Dean of Students Cari Harrison gives her input regarding the updated phone policy. She said, “I know there can never be a device free classroom. And we know that you guys can do everything on your phone on your IPad too. We just want to build culture and community in the classroom which is where we can most easily control it.”
According to Harrison, the policy is slowly being phased into Bellarmine student life. Now in the classroom it can be more easily enforced and put into action. Soon the policy will apply in hallways, the cafeteria, and eventually the entirety of campus.
With this new phone policy implemented at Bellarmine Prep, the impact this policy has on the student body will be taken into consideration and adapted to ensure a focused learning environment. There are hopes for Bellarmine’s future that the campus life will be phone free.
