Phones are a major part of modern-day teenagers’ lives. Countless hours are spent each day looking down at a screen, and some of those are often in school. However, recently at Chelsea High School, a phone ban has been implemented, and two major questions can be asked out of it: Why ban them, and how are people reacting?

“The cell phone policy is a school board policy, so it was not created by the administrators or out of any school principal themselves,” Chelsea High School Principal Amanda Clor said. “This was a conversation that took place between the school board.”

The decision being made from high up in the Chelsea School District must mean that it is an important and present matter. There must be a reason why this decision was made.

“There’s just been so much research that has come out over time, about screen time, social media, time that teens are on their phone, and the detriment to mental health, along with just the distraction in the school environment,” Clor said.

When large and important decisions are made that bring great change, there will often be a strong response to the change, whether it’s a positive or negative response.

“I was very upset, because I like to use my phone at school. I feel like it’s a right that the school shouldn’t be able to take away,” sophomore Parker Westcott said. “I think it’s stupid.”

Even while seeing the negative side of the ban, some positive aspects were taken out of the ban as well.

“The ban can definitely help you focus on your work a little bit more, especially if you’re not distracted by the thought of social media or your phone next to you, and you can focus on your work a little bit better,” Westcott said.  “I think that, obviously, we shouldn’t be able to use them during a lesson.”

Hearing one opinion on the ban is helpful, but to get the full perspective of reactions to the ban a differing opinion must also be heard.

“My initial reaction was indifferent, because most of the time when I am on my phone, it’s when I’m actually allowed to be on it,” senior Tanner Linde said. “The only thing that changes for me is that I can’t be on it during Bulldog block, and I honestly don’t mind that much.” 

With differing opinions and ideas, there must be an idea for a potential compromise or alternative.

“I think the pouches that we have, where you just walk into class and put them in there, is the best option that satisfies both parties who want the phones to be put up and people who want to have them,” Linde said.