On August 19, 2024, the new phone policy at Omaha North High School was officially enforced. The phone policy is a policy in which students must keep their phone away during class, or any productive time during school hours. 

 There are different consequences depending on how the student responds to being caught with their phone out. The most common consequence is that the student’s phone will be put into a lockbox for the rest of the block. 

“Certain teachers have been more strict than others, all of mine will give a warning before locking it up though” said Sadie Larkin, 11. 

This new policy was created since the last one was not as effective as the staff members would have liked.  

“Well, I know we were looking at other schools like Benson and Northwest and we saw that it really improved academics with Benson. So last year we were talking about it, I was on the principal advisement committee. We were planning on putting them into place and I was one of the big reasons, I’ve seen a lot more kids engaged, so we pretty much took Bensons’ idea,” said Hannah Kozak, Art teacher. 

Teachers usually have a positive viewpoint on this new policy as students are less distracted on their phones and able to be more focused on schoolwork instead.  

“I support the new phone policy, because students are distracted (by being on their phones)” Donell Evans a science teacher for college classes, honors class and general biology at Omaha North High school.  

“Group work is good, classroom discussions are better kids actually start talking to each other more” Kozak said.  

Teachers tend to see that the new phone policy overall helps the student focus on their work with less distractions.  

“I can’t see any negatives about it (new policy) because they still get to bring them to school and keep them (phones) on them” said Donnell Evans, Science teacher. 

“Kids are way more engaged in their work,” Kozak said and “more willing to try new things, so I think it’s really good.” 

While the students tend to have a more negative viewpoint on the new policy. 

 “I don’t support it because it doesn’t solve anything,” said Jesus Perez Hernandez,10, “because there are other ways to distract yourself, the only reason why the phones were a problem is because people find it as a distraction, but there are other ways you can get distracted, such as an iPad or laptop.”    

“Emergencies do happen, or like important questions students need to ask parents and stuff, and plus music helps a lot of students focus so they should be allowed to have their phones,” said Autumn Baker,10. 

Overall students tend to have a negative viewpoint over the new phone policy when teachers have a positive viewpoint on the new phone policy. But there are few students that have a neutral or almost like the new phone policy to an extent. 

“While sometimes it can be extreme, I honestly think that I get more work done without the distraction of my phone, so I somewhat support it,” Larkin said. 

Personally, I understand why the phone policy is in place, since kids are too distracted on their phones to do their work. But then again If the student does not want to do their work, then they will not do the work, does not really matter if they have access to their phone or not.  

“Pros are that it minimizes distraction, helps students process more information, and makes students more focused. Cons are that there isn’t something to do when finished with work and usually students who aren’t willing to pay attention with their phone aren’t going to switch just because they can’t use it,” Larkin said. 

This new phone policy also takes effect in advisement, which I as a student find ridiculous since students do not do much in that class.

 “I’m not sure why they can’t have it during Viking choice time. I would be curious if maybe they can have it out during Viking time, but I don’t know why they chose to have them put away during Viking time so they might have a really good reason over it” Evans said. 

“No (enforced during advisement) I think advisement is free time/nap time for a lot of students because waking up at 6 am is really tough and then having to do their first block, so having that little break time is good, and we should be allowed on our phones during that time,” Baker said. 

“I am kinda on the fence about that, I think it would be a good idea in advisement, but I also think it’s nice for kids to kinda have that time to be on their phones but also like socialize. So, it kinda depends on that especially during Viking choice time, I would love for them to use their phones as like a way to look up inspiration but I’m not too sure about that well see how it goes,” Kozak said.  

This policy is also being enforced in the library as it is considered a productive work area. Even though the library did not have a lock box when I talked to them, the Librarian and Para Librarian enforce the rules their own way.  

“I just ask them not to let me see their phone,” said Pamela Hill-Henderson, Para Librarian.  

At the end of the day most students believed that the new phone policy is pointless while teachers found that the new phone policy is useful.  

“I just hope they continue with the policy,” Evans said.  

“Hashtag get rid of phone jail,” Baker said