Off and away, but for the day?

At Frost Middle School, the new “off and away for the day” 22-23 cell phone policy is known by every student, but not necessarily liked. The new phone policy implies that students will not use their phones at any time between 7:10 and 2:15. Students can’t even use them during lunch, or Falcon Focus. In addition, phones are also not allowed if  you stay after school.

If a student is found breaking this rule, the first strike is the phone is confiscated, but you can pick it up at the end of the day. Further phone usage will result in contact to home and talking with an administrator. 8th grader Abraham C. said, “I think we should be able to use phones during lunch and after school, I think they should change the policy.” 

Other students think that the policy is a good thought, but should be altered slightly. “I think it is a good idea during school. People will actually pay attention to the teacher, however I think phones should be allowed during after school.” 8th grader Talia S. stated.

Overall, many students think this phone policy is restrictive and does not grant them the freedoms students should have.

The chorus teacher, Ms. Lee, says that the phone policy is a good idea in general because students focus better in class, and that with computers students wouldn’t need phones to access technology. On the other hand, Ms. Lee also said that she thinks phones could be allowed during lunch if a way was found to manage it in a reasonable way. 

7th grad

e history teacher, Ms. Pepper, is supportive of the new phone policy. “I think the new cell phone policy is a great idea.” Ms. Pepper commented. “Cell phones have increasingly become a distraction at school both socially and academically. Since FCPS went one-to-one, providing every student with a school laptop, access to technology for instructional purposes has never been easier!”