TCT’s Phone Policy Series

At the end of the 2019 school year, all Forest Hills families and staff received an email stating a new change for the upcoming 2020 year: phones would no longer be allowed on campus during school hours. This policy—a change of approach from previous years—came as a surprise for everyone. With rising phone use acting as a distraction to class and students’ education, phones are now required to be k...

The first week of the year has come to a close at Forest Hills Public Schools and the question everyone is asking is “did the phone policy work?” Well, it seems that all depends on who you ask. The new cell phone policy implemented district-wide this year requires students to keep their phones off their person during the hours between 7:45 and 2:45. This policy, which may have surprised stu...

1. When did you first learn about the phone policy? "We got an email over the summer that I think went out to the whole community in maybe June. I think it was after school got out because we weren't [in school]. Otherwise, we would have talked about it probably. I know it was after school was out, but it was in early summer." 2. What was your initial reaction to it? "I was surprised by the decisio...

Phones. All the rage of our current society basically encircles the topic of the one and only phenomenon of phones. Whether you love the evolution or hate it, it’s happening. However, that is just a fact that some people can’t accept. On a global range, there are nearly 5.13 billion—yes, billion—people with mobile phones. That is nearly sixty-seven percent of the entire population of humans ...

1. When did you first learn about the new phone policy? "In the summer around August." 2. What was your initial reaction? "I was pretty mad [about] it." 3. What did you think the implementation of the phone ban has aimed to do? "[I think it’s] probably so we pay attention better and get better scores on tests and exams." 4. Did you have any expectations with it going into the school year? ...

As I approached the double army-green doors of the freshman hallway on the morning of the first day of school, I noticed Mr. Passinault was holding the doors open for incoming students. Hesitantly, I tucked my phone—which my hand was grasping—into the side pocket of my backpack. I flashed an enthusiastic smile towards the principal as I completed the nerve-racking journey past him; I was unsure ...

1. When did you first learn about the new phone policy? "I learned about it from my mom [at] the beginning of August." 2. What was your initial reaction? "I was really surprised, and I wasn't sure how it would work." 3. What did you think the implementation of the phone ban has aimed to do? "I think that the main point of it was so students wouldn't be using it during class when teachers were teaching....