As cell phones gain more popularity worldwide every day, schools are beginning to make an effort to limit the effects of device use.
On Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, the Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD) implemented a new cell phone policy. Students must keep their devices, including phones and earbuds, detached from their bodies and unseen during class.
“I wish it would have happened five years ago,” said Stacey Strief, a social studies teacher at Liberty. “I’ve definitely noticed a super positive impact.”
As Liberty eliminates the distractions that come from phones, teachers have begun to notice positive outcomes in students’ learning.
“I have seen more students off their phones and actually paying attention to the lesson,” said Yvonne Walters, a health teacher at Liberty.
It is not just staff members who are noticing the effects in academic spaces.
“I see kids making conversations that are not on their phones, making connections, talking to teachers,” said Hailey Hansen, 9. “I just think overall it’s causing kids to talk more face-to-face to experience more in the physical world.”
After completing in-class work, students are encouraged to work on homework, read books and find other things to do instead of scrolling on their phones.
“Since there’s a stricter ban, I do think that I find myself more productive,” said Hansen. “Now, I’ve actually seen kids go to the library and ask for books, which you didn’t see very often before.”
However, the disadvantages students face during independent work time have not gone unnoticed. The privilege of listening to music has been taken away due to the new policy, which includes listening devices such as earbuds, headphones and AirPods.
“I like using my phone to play music, and being able to listen to music helps me focus in class,” said Maisie Martinez, 9.
The no-phone policy also extends to Advisory and Liberty Time, designated class periods where students can wrap up extra classwork and complete school-issued lessons.
“I do think students should be allowed to use AirPods during Liberty Time and Advisory,” said Strief. “Because sometimes during Liberty Time, students are required to watch videos, and it’s really hard to do that.”
While staff members and students at Liberty adjust to the ban, the impacts inside and outside of the classroom are essential to their learning.
“If I do homework at home without my phone, I’m so much more productive,” said Hansen.
Efforts are being made on both sides to improve focus, eradicate distractions and explore new habits of productivity.
Though these rules are new for everyone, the importance of enforcing them is upheld. “I think people are using it the way they need to be using it,” said Walters.
Despite the unfamiliarity, the new cell phone policy has remained rigid and developed its place in the classroom.
“They spent a lot of time collecting feedback from all stakeholders,” said Strief. “The cell phone policy that we have in place is one that I don’t think will need much in regards to changes.”
For now, Liberty’s new cell phone policy is here to stay.
