For the 2012-13 school year many controversial changes have been made; most notably, the cell phone policy. Unlike in years past, students will not be able to use their cell phones or iPods during passing period this year.

Contrary to belief, the actual policy has not been changed, just the definition of the school day. The policy states that students can possess a cell phone or iPod but they cannot use it during the school day “as defined by the administrator.” Now, the school day is defined as starting at 7:50am and ending at 2:55pm.

The definition was changed so that 100 percent of the academic day would be focused on learning. So far, the change in policy has had good results and focus has been up and personal conflicts fueled by social media, has been down.

Yet, even though the end results of the cell phone policy is positive, I do not believe that this is the best course of action for the school.

There are many instances where cell phones are needed. There are many times when students forget homework, lunches, etc. and need to contact their parents. While the student could go to the office to call their parents, there is not always time do to so, especially if one realized that he or she forgot something near the end of passing period. On the other hand, it is much easier to send a quick text from a cell phone.

Cell phones are also of importance when a practice or activity is canceled. While in the future these will be put up on the school website, not all parents will check the website for updates. Also, if everyone involved went to the office to call their parents to inform them, then those people would be late to class because they had to wait in a line to use a phone.

In addition, if parents needed to contact their son or daughter, a cell phone would be a useful tool. Instead of calling the school and having to interrupt their child’s school day, they could have just sent a quick text, which could be checked during passing period.

Even though, students are losing only 25 minutes total of cell phone use, I do not agree with the new definition of the school day, but I do agree, that the old cell phone policy was far too relaxed.

Cell phone use should be allowed in the halls, but students should not be permitted to possess a cell phone during class. When students feels their cell phone vibrate, or sees it light up, signaling a text message, their academic concentration is broken and there is almost a natural instinct to immediately check it. Most students will act on this instinct, moving their focus from the teacher to the phone. If they don’t, they will be thinking about the text message until passing period.

Therefore, I propose that students should be able to use their cell phones during passing period, but they must give them to the teacher when they enter the classroom. This way there is absolutely no temptation for students to check their cell phone during class. Then, when class is dismissed, students can grab their devices and head off to their next class.

While I understand that most students will be unwilling to give up their cell phones to teachers, I believe that if students were able to use their phones during passing period in exchange for this, they would gladly embrace it.