Wheeling Park High School just finished the first nine weeks with the secured phone policy in action. Many people want to know: is the phone policy is effective? 

“As the nine weeks wraps up, I continue to see the positive effects of the school phone policy. In looking at students’ grades there are less nine week failing grades as a result of cell phone free classrooms. It seems students are much more engaged in learning without that distraction. I also continue to see less drama between students during the school day”, said Jennifer Kucera- Short, department chair of counseling at Wheeling Park High school.

Comparing the first nine weeks from the 23-24 school year and the first nine weeks this year, failures are down 26.9% across the school.

“Passing classes and being successful at school contributes to more positive mental health!” said Ms. Short.

According to University of California San Francisco, “The more time kids spend using screens from ages 9 to 11 years old, the higher their odds of suicidal behaviors two years later, at ages 11 to 13. Specifically, each additional hour of screen time increased the risk by 9%.”

Counselors are noticing a difference in students’ mental health, but what about students?

“I think it makes me happier, and I feel really included in everything, when I’m not worrying about what’s on my phone”, said Emma Geisel, senior at Wheeling Park High School.

According to school discipline reports as of Oct. 4, the cell phone jails have been used by a total of  74 students so far this school year.

Cell phone jail holds 20 phones, the number has never reached that. The most phones we’ve had, have been 17. In comparison this is 1.1% of the student population.

Most students have, at least in data, adjusted to the policy well, although, according to a poll taken on The Park Press’ instagram asking, “do you feel like you have noticed a positive difference in your mental health in this first quarter with the new phone policy?”

Out of 34 responses 76% answer no, 24% answer yes. Whether this data shows that students are unaware of the positive impact of the phone policy or feel this less on an individual level versus a school-wide markable change, the phone policy is here to stay and students are adapting.

This story was originally published on The Park Press on November 13, 2024.