Phone bans are becoming increasingly popular throughout the United States, with states such as Florida, Indiana, and Louisiana taking measures to remove phones from students’ reach during class hours. Though unpopular among certain students, school officials said that banning phones in schools will increase productivity and social connection while decreasing cheating.

Dean of Student Life, Mrs. Rashbaum, said that the phone policies were intended to help students avoid distractions during the day. 

“It’s about finding balance,” Rashbaum said. “Learning time is now set aside for learning and interacting with your classmates and teachers. Then during free time, you have time with your phone.”

From a teacher’s perspective, the transition has not been drastic. 

“Kids just come in the room and put their phone in the phone pocket,” Rashbaum said. “I’m really pleased with how it’s going so far, but we want to hear what students think.” 

Specifically, how do students feel toward a day-long ban?

“A lot of schools, including Broward County, have put out full bans during the school day,” she said. “We thought about that, but we wanted to be mindful that there is a use for phones, perhaps just when you’re not in a learning space.”

But what constitutes a learning space? Students’ main complaint is that the library functions as both a place for work and socialization, so a ban in the library is aggravating for some. 

Yash Gupta ’25 said that for most people, the library is a place to socialize–especially when it’s too hot to sit outside.

 “It makes sense in the classrooms and halls, but sometimes people need to use their phones in the library because it’s a social setting.”

Not only that, but phones give students quick access to emails, grades, and Schoology.

“Sometimes students need to email their teacher, text their parents, or check their grades without getting their computers out,” said Jonathan Rosen ’25. “The library is a place where we should be able to do that.”

That’s not to say that the new phone policy is bad in other settings.

“I think that there are a lot of toxic effects surrounding social media,” Gupta said. “Being free from social media allows us to be more human than just robots trapped inside of our screens.”

According to Pine Crest’s “Strategic Plan,” students are encouraged to be “Globally Connected.” This connection can be accomplished through computers and email, but the phone policy aims to make face-to-face conversations the main form of connection.