In May of last year, Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 250, which requires every public school district in Ohio to establish an official policy that regulates cell phone usage during school hours. Revere High School (RHS) will feel the effects of this legislation starting in the 2025-2026 school year as administrators start to finalize the details of the policy over the next few weeks. 

The new policy institutes a conservative take on monitoring cell phone usage, requiring students to keep their cell phones in their lockers at all times outside of free periods and lunch. Students are voicing their thoughts on the adjustment, a drastic change from the current policy.

Katie Parsons

Katie Parsons is a freshman involved in Speech and Debate, Revere Players, volleyball, and track. She explains her thoughts on the current policy of teachers dictating phone use per class.

“There could always be a little reforming, as there are always students that will go behind the teacher’s backs, but that’s just something that is going to happen pretty much no matter what. I’m pretty satisfied with what we have right now,” Parsons said. 

Parsons is against the proposed policy, arguing that it may cause a variety of issues regarding student and family safety. 

“I personally do not like [the policy]. As a person with elderly family members living with me, I constantly worry about the wellbeing of everyone in my house. So it’s always been a stressor when I’ve had to keep my phone away from me and I don’t know what’s going on at home. My abuela, she’s getting on in her years, and I’m terrified that she’ll be at home alone, fall down the stairs, and have no one to help her, because she’ll call me [first] if she has an emergency. . . not being able to know if she’s alright scares me,” she said.

The proposed policy allows for students with medical issues to have their phones for essential activities, such as checking blood sugar, but Parsons recognizes other issues that warrant access to phones throughout the day.

“A lot of students I know, like me, have anxiety or. . . real issues going on in their own personal lives, and some rely on that constant update and contact with parents. ” she said. 

In addition to the practicality of emergency communications and notifications, Parsons affirms that letting students have access to their phones teaches them the importance of prioritizing and decision-making in how they use technology in their everyday lives.

“[The current policy gives] a sense of newfound responsibility to a lot of kids who are just coming up from middle school, as it gives [them] a chance to learn how to be responsible with [their] phones, like for when [they] get out into the real world and into college. It prepares us by letting us make our own decisions,” Parsons said.

Gabi Iler

Junior Gabi Iler has been heavily involved in the discussion regarding the new phone policy. As founder and president of Revere Student Voices, she attended board meetings to reflect student body opinion on what the rules should be. She, like much of the student body, is of the sentiment that keeping phones in lockers the whole day might not be the best route to take. 

“I think [the policy] has good intentions, but I personally don’t know how well it’s going to work, mostly because it’s going to be a hard transition for all of the students who have been able to have their phones throughout the day for like three years. And I also think that there’s very legitimate reasons that students use their phones throughout the day. . . whether they relate to school or not, they are essential to our everyday lives,” Iler said. 

Iler elaborated on the various benefits and general usefulness of having access to phones in the classroom and throughout the day.

“A lot of classes use phones. For example, CCP classes use it for the two factor authentication, and then also, [there are] ways that students use their phones throughout the day that don’t relate to school. I use my phone to organize meetings for the clubs that I run and to communicate with the other club leaders. I use my phone to put things into our family calendar. I use my phone to communicate with my brother and with my parents . . . and I use my phone as a quick tool to look things up, especially when the school blocks a website that I need to use that I know is appropriate. I just use my phone to help aid me in my education and with things outside of school,” Iler said. 

Instead of outright banning cell phones in the classroom, Iler proposes an alternative that would give the teachers more control.

“I would say [an ideal policy would be] having students be required to keep their phones in the phone caddies that every classroom already has, and then letting the teachers decide when they want to let students access those phones, which would allow them to have their phones during passing periods. I also think it might be beneficial to restrict phone usage during lunch and just have students leave their phones in the phone caddies before they go to lunch, because I do see the advantages of having a more vibrant lunchroom and letting people socialize in-person,” Iler said.

Paul Torma

Senior Paul Torma is involved in Mock Trial, Recycling Club, band, and track. Though his high school experience has been rich with participation across academics, sports, and performing arts, he acknowledges that phone use has potentially dampened some of his career. He explains that for this reason, he understands the thought process behind the new policy. 

“I will say in my high school career, I do feel like the phone has taken away from some of my experience. . .  I’m not saying that the time I had was bad, but I think having access to [phones] throughout the day can sometimes [become] a comfort [mechanism]. If I don’t know what to do, or I’m bored in class, or there’s nothing to do, I’ll just go on my phone. . . which isn’t terrible, but over time, building that [habit] is not [healthy]. . . I feel like I’ve suffered a bit from it. Keeping phones in lockers isn’t a terrible idea, [and] I think there are some benefits to that,” Torma said. 

Despite the good intentions of the new policy, however, Torma acknowledges that it may be too dramatic of a shift for some, emphasizing that in most of his classes, the current policy has been sufficient.

“I’m not sure if [the new policy] is that necessary. . . in some classes [phone usage] isn’t controlled well, but in other classes, there is no problem with it. In most of my classes, there is no problem because [teachers] know if you’re on your phone, you’re not going to do well in class anyways. So that’s already an incentive to not be on your phone,” Torma said. 

Saumya Sharma 

Senior Saumya Sharma is involved in Speech and Debate, Mock Trial, Mu Alpha Theta, and a variety of other academic clubs. Though the proposed policy will not affect him, he feels as though it will do more harm than good. He shares Iler’s sentiment regarding what an ideal policy looks like.

“I think there’s really no reason to [keep phones in lockers]. At the very least, even if you want to be more strict about cell phones, I think the best policy is to mandate all students to put them in the pouches, because we know that works. Also, it gives students an ability to get their phone pretty quickly if they need to in an emergency, or if their parents are texting them. [It’s more efficient] than having to completely reroute your course between classes to go to your locker just to check your phone. 

Sharma’s preference for the current policy stems from both practicality and letting teachers have the final say on how to control their own classes.

“Nobody knows the situation in a classroom more than a teacher. It’s the teachers who have the most knowledge of what they’re teaching in their class and how students are taking it. It should ultimately be the teachers’ responsibility and power to decide how they want to moderate cell phones. If I had to tell my brother to get on the bus today because I couldn’t take him home after school, [with the current policy] I can tell him pretty easily, instead of having to go through the hassle of going to my locker and hoping my brother actually sees it. So it’s just an easier line of connection to other students, to family, and in any situation where you might have to talk to other people outside of the classroom,” he said.

General opinion seems to be that the proposed cell phone policy, though well meaning, fails to consider the various ways students use their phones as a tool for planning and communications during the school day. Additionally, it would significantly hinder students’ ability to contact people at home in case of an emergency and vice versa. The workaround of having teachers require that students keep their phones in caddies best combines the wishes of both administrators and students— this policy would allow teachers to limit distractions and encourage socializing in the classroom while also allowing students to access their phones on a case-to-case basis.