By Roman Ashcraft
High school teachers all over Indiana were looking forward to not hearing buzzing in class this year with the new phone law. After the first nine weeks, how is the new law working out?
Some teachers are not that strict on phones and allow the students on their phone, but some teachers are so strict that they will write you up if they see it.
However when students aren’t supposed to have their phone some still have it. According to Indiana law Senate Bill 185, during instructional time students can only have their phone for emergencies, medical issues or educational purposes that are allowed by the teacher.
Some students still use their phones to communicate with friends instead of listening to the teacher.
“When I don’t have my phone I can’t talk to my friends as much without my phone,” freshman Nevaeh Enyeart says.
Some students don’t have a problem not being on their phone. They can sit there, listen and get their work done.
Senior Bristol Hughes said he is perfectly fine without having his phone.
Both Bristol and Neveah agree that phones can be a reliable source when you need help on a question, but students use their phones as an advantage. Some use their phone the whole time and don’t even try to work on problems.
The reason why they use their phone to check an answer and don’t use their Chromebook is because if the assignment is on paper you can’t get on your Chromebook.
The law first started in early March 2024, where students cannot have any wireless devices, but it didn’t start getting traction until later last year. The reason it didn’t get traction until this year at Delta is because each school district must come up with its own policy for exactly how student cell phone bans work.
There has always been a rule about phones at Delta.
English teacher Mrs. Amanda Craw says a law shouldn’t be necessary to stop the usage of phones.
“To create a solution doesn’t mean you just create more laws,” Craw said.
Mrs. Craw didn’t get strict about the phone law last year, but is more cautious of it this year.
“The phone law made teachers feel better valued because the students are listening when they are teaching,’’ Mrs. Craw said.
The purpose of the law is to prevent students from getting distracted while learning. Phones also can cause conflict between people.
When a student gets caught they will usually get written up, but Mrs. Craw will give the student a warning the first time. Then the second time she will take the student’s phone, write them up and remind them of the rules.
So far this year Mrs. Craw says she has written up half a dozen students for their phones. She has written up more freshmen this year than seniors.
Craw is more strict with freshmen for their phones because she says they have less self control.
Both Bristol and Mrs. Craw think the law should be less strict, but Mrs. Craw says it is hard to enforce the law. Bristol thinks that students should have their phones in certain situations such as emergencies, things for healthcare, and stuff to do class work.
Neveah thinks it should get more strict because the law is not stopping students from being on their phones.
Students not being allowed to be on their phones has been a school rule for almost five years, but some teachers were more strict than others. Mrs. Craw thinks teachers should be more strict about kids having their phones and not the law.
“I do get frustrated when I walk by classes and see students on their phones and teachers not doing anything about it,” she said.
