What’s one positive and negative thing that phones do for your subject? 

• Collier (Math): Well, one time a student had to use her phone to take a picture of the book, and then she called me over for help. While I was looking at the screen, she had like, four messages pop up. And to me, that’s got to be a distraction. So, to me, I feel like we don’t need them. [A positive thing] Is probably how they are faster than laptops in most cases. Students will say “Well I can just do this on my phone!” Even AP kids get upset. So, I think the phone is faster but then again, it’s a distraction. 
• Weaver (English): A negative would be that they’re a distraction. Instead of people being on task, they are worried about their phones. Things like notifications popping up, social media, things like that. A positive is some situations where students get to listen to music. I think it is appropriate at times, but not all the time. Another positive is that they could be a resource, but we have laptops for that. 
• Stone (Science): Phones can be used for good things. For instance, a timer, right there. A calculator, right there. It just depends on the age group, as to who can use them responsibly for the things you can use them for in science. The main negative would be that they are a distraction. 
• Murray (Art): Well, teaching art with phones is easier when a student can just look up an example of what we’re doing or watch a video. Y’know how sometimes I’ll tell students to watch something, it’s easier because the school blocks everything on the computers. On phones, they can see YouTube & Pinterest. The negative is just not getting things done and acting a fool. Some kids want to make TikTok videos. 

Did you notice any changes in your classes when the admin started cracking down on phones more?

• Collier: I never really let my kids have phones. I did, I remember 6 years ago I would let them listen to music, but I can’t even do that anymore, because their music was loud. You could hear it through their headphones. There wasn’t a difference because I didn’t allow them to begin with. 
• Weaver: Yes. The first year I was here, I did not have a strict phone policy. When I started using the phone caddy for attendance, I saw a drastic improvement in people getting work done on time, paying attention, and things like that. 
• Stone: Yes, I noticed the consistency. I wouldn’t have to get on my students as much in my classroom because they knew the expectations. Only because they were getting that same treatment in every other class. But I do still see air pods and headphones in the hallway. There wasn’t a huge difference in grades because I have always been so strict about turning things in and kids putting their phones up. 
• Murray: Yes. When I cracked down on my stuff (phones) myself, I noticed a change. And I also noticed a change within the student. They know it’s an addiction, and it feels good not to have it, when they’re forced to. When they’re asked to, it’s different. They can’t get rid of them. 

How do phones affect your subject specifically? 

• Collier: I don’t think we need phones, Y’know? For math, I know they are faster than laptops. You could do Blooket and Schoology, but kids just want to use their phones for the calculator. The calculator on the phone is not nearly as nice as the calculators we have. I’ll be honest, the first eight years I taught, nobody had a phone, so it wasn’t an issue & I thought it was easier to teach. 
• Weaver: They don’t affect English specifically. Unless you’re using your phone to have AI write your paper, that could be specific to English. 
• Stone: It can be a huge distraction, so I want them to put their phones in the pockets. Any electronic stuff we do happens on the laptops. Especially for testing and the labs, I just don’t like phones in the educational setting. 
• Murray: Well, phones mess with the pace. If you have a kid who’s constantly on their phone, they’re slower than everyone else. If you’re trying to pace everything, you either have to wait for that student, or leave them behind. That just creates more work; For me, and the student. 

Overall, teachers dislike phones in the learning environment and think it has a negative impact. There are ways that phones can help certain classes, but the school provides laptops. Some of these teachers were a lot more lenient about phones before the admin started cracking down. Now, all classes are a No Phone Zone and will require you to have your phone up at all times, other than the last two minutes of class. This is a great rule that is put in place by individual teachers, keeping students off their phones until instructional time is complete. There could be many positives of people using their phones during class, but the negatives heavily outweigh them, especially when people become distracted by their phones.