
On August 5, 2024 the Oak Hills Board of Education adopted a new cell phone policy in compliance with Ohio’s House Bill 250, which requires all schools in the state to have an official cell phone policy. Now the big question on the table, is this a good or bad thing? Both teachers and students would admit that the established cell phone policy is a good thing as it cuts down on distractions, but it does have its drawbacks. The cell phone policy permits use during lunch, study hall, and bell change. Cell phones are not to be used during instructional time (including X-Bell). The minor drawback to the cell phone policy is that some teachers have become used to utilizing cell phones in the classroom. Teachers have had to adopt new procedures to ensure the cell phone policy is followed properly, how do they feel about it? Mrs. Nemeth, an experienced teacher in the building, has provided the following, “I think it helps students stay more focused”. There’s no doubt that the cell phone policy has helped students stay focused, the National Library of Medicine reported that 68% of students listed cell phones as a distraction, the new policy seeks to reduce that statistic. Now, how do students feel about the policy? An anonymous student has also shared their viewpoint, “I understand the policy and why it’s there, but I think the individual policies should be left up to teachers and whether they want students to put their phones in the slots or not.” Throughout both teachers and students, the purpose of the cell phone policy can be understood and accepted. The interviews show the viewpoints of both students and teachers, who do not seem to have a problem with the new changes.