Warrior Word

by Macaulay Beehler

Over 75% of school districts in Washington state planned to institute some sort of phone ban policy in the 2025-2026 school year. This plan progressed more and more and was officially put into place at the start of the year. Families and students were informed of this during the summer, but many students were still surprised by the phone ban. It was clear that this was not some half-hearted effort that wouldn’t be enforced, and that teachers were genuinely serious. Right off the bat, on the first day of school, many phones had already been confiscated. In addition to phones, headphones, and other devices were also prohibited, and staff ensured students weren’t using them either. Jordy, a staff member well known by students, was especially strict and kept a keen eye for phones. Several students reported that Jordy actually paid visits to several classrooms to discuss how serious the ban is and how they aren’t messing around. 

Students responded to the ban with different feelings. As expected, some students resisted the ban and just carried on as normal, trying to sneak phone usage. Other students actually agreed with the school district’s decision and said it would help improve focus and limit distractions in class. Surprisingly, the majority of students, when interviewed, said that it would not have much effect on the productivity of students in class. One student said, “Locked-in students will be focused in class even if they have a phone, and distracted students will just find other ways to not do the work even if they don’t have their phone.” Essentially, saying that the presence of a phone, or lack thereof, will not affect the studying and focus habits of students. 

Most teachers were very supportive of the ban, as phone usage had been a large problem in classrooms in recent years. One teacher, Michael Simon, said that he “Drove to school happy and excited for the first time in years.” Some teachers felt that perhaps it is too strict and that kids will be kids and use their phones no matter what. These teachers expressed that this phone ban is not up to them, and any complaints should be taken up with the superintendent. Despite any concerns, all teachers said that they would be diligent and follow the rules they are supposed to. A few months into the school year, some teachers have started to relax slightly on the rules. Although most won’t allow open use of phones, they might just warn students more instead of immediately confiscating them.

Even though they aren’t as present in schools, an important opinion to consider is actually the parents of students. The way the phone ban works is that if you are caught on your phone, then it gets confiscated and placed in a marked envelope, which is then sent to the Warrior Support Center, where the student’s parent has to come pick it up. However, many parents aren’t available to come pick it up, as many parents work jobs or are busy with the many tasks in their daily lives. Because of this, there have been times when the phone hasn’t been able to be picked up for multiple days. The phone can be an important tool for safety concerns, to connect with friends, and allow students access to their support networks when in need. Many parents express that the issue should be dealt with at school, and they shouldn’t have to take time out of their day to come pick it up. Although, not all views of the phone ban from parents are negative, as many are in support. Many parents feel that kids are too addicted to screens and that school is a time to learn, and phones distract them from that purpose. One parent, when interviewed, said, “Maybe now kids can get their work done at school and not have to stay up till midnight doing it.” Overall, it seems that parents agree with the phone ban and believe it is helpful; although, certain aspects of it are flawed and should be tweaked. 

In conclusion, Washington’s effort towards stricter cellphone policies shows a good intent to improve learning conditions and student well-being. The bans have yielded clear benefits for teachers and have many positive results thus far. However, student responses reveal that the policy is far from a perfect solution. While many students eventually adapt, others remain skeptical or frustrated, suggesting that successful implementation requires better compromise, communication, and complementary support. Ultimately, the phone ban represents an important step in addressing the challenges of digital distraction, but it works best when paired with strategies that help students build healthy relationships with technology beyond the classroom. As the school year progresses, we will further see how the phone ban will affect classrooms and the day-to-day lives of students.