The idea for the new phone ban guideline was decided by the high school’s administration staff. Head Principal Dr. Bill DeWitt proposed the idea to the school board in hopes that the policy would include a restriction from the first bell to the last bell of the school day. The board reached a compromise after conducting research to implement a bell-to-bell schedule during class hours, meaning that students can have their phones during passing periods and lunch time. 

The first week of school, if students had their phones out, they would simply get told to put them away. The staff was more lenient since students weren’t yet accustomed to the policy. After that week, if the number of times a student is on their phone increases, their phone will be taken and given to the office for the student to pick up after school. Then, if a student still has trouble having their phone out in class, it will also be taken to the office, but a parent has to come pick up the phone.

“That’s your choices leading up to the consequences that you’ve created because of your choices,” Dr. Dewitt said. “It’s not an effort to control, manipulate, or tell you how to live your lives. We are just trying to protect academic time.”

Students have been vocal about not appreciating the new policy. Junior Kambrea Kerr stated that phones can be an instructional tool for education. Students often use Kahoot, GimKit, QR codes and other apps and websites that are easier to access on phones. 

However, board member Heather Whalen had a different perspective. Whalen pointed out that students are already provided with the equipment to complete academic work. Students shouldn’t need an extra tool to be capable of completing work. The additional device of a phone just isn’t necessary. 

“Everything students need to be successful in every class at Eudora High School, they have that device given to them, so they don’t need the additional device of a phone,” Whalen said.

Kerr also brought up the fact that emergencies in schools could occur. There are smaller emergencies when Kerr needs to tell her parents time-sensitive information about after-school plans, forgetting things at home and reminders about forgotten appointments. Sometimes, she just needs to check in with her mom throughout a stressful class for support. 

“And we as parents have gotten used to having our kids call and texting whenever we want,” Whalen said, “and that’s not always the best thing either, even if our intentions are good. But I know that he [Whalen’s son] can see my text between classes.”

On the side of bigger emergencies, such as a fire in the building, a natural disaster, or even an intruder in the building, Kerr feels that having her phone with her in case anything happens makes her feel more secure. 

In a high-level situation, Dr. DeWitt’s concern would be on the safety and well-being of students and staff. Sending and receiving messages to those outside of the building can lead to a lot of misinformation and could cause more harm than good. Overall, a student would not get in any trouble for messaging a parent or a loved one during an emergency. 

“I’m willing to risk the realities of parents knowing their children are okay with managing some misinformation that might come from that,” Dr. DeWitt said.

Members of the school board and the high school’s administrative staff researched how detrimental phones and social media can be to people of all ages. Having easy access to contact others at a surface level seems to have no cons, but it can lead to damaging vital social skills. It causes people to have more urgency and less patience. There are also tons of cyberbullying and false information that is spread online, which is harmful to people. Students shouldn’t be surrounded by these things, especially when the time should be reserved for students to focus on academics.

“We are losing the social aspect and the ability to be present, which is my favorite aspect of the cell phone restriction, just allowing students and teachers to be fully present,” Whalen said.

Eudora High School isn’t the only high school that has put policies in place.  Lawrence, Kansas, schools also have a cell phone ban. In Kansas, each district can control what level of ban there is. Unlike in Missouri, there’s a state-wide ban for all schools. For Eudora High School, the board could alter the strictness of the ban, either increasing or decreasing it, after data is collected once the school year goes by.