I’ve been paying attention. A friend’s phone got taken away by a teacher during break when he looked at a homework reminder a few weeks ago. In this day and age, phones aren’t distractions at all; they’re technology that can stretch creativity, organization and even collaboration. Completely banning them would send the wrong message: Students can’t be trusted to take responsibility for their own lives. Where are we going with tougher constraints? Smarter cell phone policies that foster balance and responsibility.

I believe The Columbus School could adopt more flexible phone policies that focus on education rather than punishment. It would teach us responsible technology use, prepare us in future learning experiences for academic and professional life, and build trust in the teacher-student relationship and in one another.

Phones can be great for proper usage by students to learn. Sergio Fortich, a 12th-grade student, added that phones can assist in studying, helping students find a source rapidly or look through school apps. “It’s not fair to discipline everybody just because some people get distracted.” Iván Santiago also took the opposite view, saying, “Teachers can’t have complete control. If we’re using phones for something useful, like research, they should allow it.” These points reveal a fundamental problem — phone bans ignore the role of technology in learning. With strong mandates and accountability, phones could become an academic asset, not a distraction.

These strict lines on phones often tell students they should not be trusted. “Overly harsh rules make us feel like teachers don’t trust us to be mature,” Sergio said. “If they let go and looked at us as grown-ups, students would do better with the rules.” Iván agreed: “We have to learn how to cope with distractions — not look at the phone as the problem.” These views show that ownership is not about control. Schools that model trust often see higher levels of respect and maturity.

Phones are an everyday part of life — university, work, emergencies. “Phones are part of life now; we’re going to use them in college and work anyway,” Sergio said. “It makes more sense to teach this balance than it does to ban them.” Iván also emphasized, “Some students need to keep in touch with their parents — especially if that is important for transportation.” These are legitimate concerns, which blanket bans dismiss. We shouldn’t eliminate phones but rather show students how to use them wisely — the way adulthood will demand.

Some teachers assert that strict bans are necessary because phones distract students and take their focus away from what they are learning in class. That is a valid point — misuse of phones does lead to problems — but banning phones entirely doesn’t solve the issue; it simply hides it. “Taking away your phones doesn’t make students suddenly focus,” Sergio said. If someone wants to mentally check out, they will. Teaching students how to use technology responsibly is a far more effective long-term solution. Instead of relying on total discipline, schools should model self-control, which is essential after high school.

It’s time for The Columbus School to re-evaluate its strategy. Improved phone policies would raise students’ digital literacy, respect, and preparedness for real-world responsibilities — the very things the school is already committed to. Phones aren’t the enemy; they’re one of the places where learning happens. Let’s shift away from punishment and toward preparation — toward an education where students learn not just when to put their phones away, but also when and how to make the most of them.