The Gryphon Gazette

By: Erin M. ’28

Phone jails: A controversial topic that always seems to be in the air. What is everyone thinking? “I hate it!” one senior immediately exclaimed after being prompted for their opinion on phone jails. However, not many students I interviewed lived so firmly on this side of the spectrum. “I don’t hate it, but it’s tedious,” a group of sophomores explained. “I think it’s fine if we just keep it in our bags. It’s annoying, but I don’t really care.” Many freshmen felt similarly: “I don’t mind them, but I don’t think they are necessary,” one freshman said to me. “They’re annoying, but it doesn’t make a difference,” another agreed. All the students I interviewed admitted that “they would rather just keep the phones in their backpack,” with the general consensus being that “phone jails weren’t really necessary.” Some seniors experiencing phone jails their entire Crystal journey had deeper thoughts. “I think it more represents the distrust between Crystal PAC and students. I don’t think it’s necessary. Especially for upperclassmen.” one said. Another mused, “I feel phones should be given as a responsibility. Students need to regulate themselves because phone jails won’t be happening when we go to college and we won’t be prepared to handle the responsibility when it’s more important”, underlining responsibility and the trust that comes with keeping one’s phone on their own belongings. 

Before the policy switch requiring teachers to mandate the enforcement of phone jails, many spoke to me about their personal opinions on them. It is to be noted that these opinions may have changed following the recent policy change for teachers on phone jails. At the time, most teachers didn’t feel strongly for or against phone jails. Two explained they were pro-phone jail but didn’t enforce them during class, as they didn’t see phones out. “If people manage themselves, then I won’t manage them.” Other PAC members said they would only enforce them when needed as “the problem is not all students, only some”. Another explained that they only utilized the phone jails during tests. “Otherwise, I usually forget,” they admitted. One teacher even spoke in parallel to the students’ opinions, reflecting that they “don’t think phone jails should be enforced, but phones need to stay in the bags.” One teacher had a slightly different take. They believed that the school as a whole needed to have a broader conversation about technology. “Without taking the laptops… it’s not necessary.” They said, explaining that they thought laptops were much worse in terms of distraction levels. Only one teacher said they regularly enforced and were completely in support of phone jails from even before the transition.  They said, “It’s a good idea. Students need support in resisting the temptation to use phones during class.”

So in reality, no one is quite as extreme as we think. Most teachers aren’t in love with phone jails and most students don’t hate them with a passion. Of course with the new teacher policy change and phone jails actually getting enforced, opinions might be changing…but that’s a story for another day.