Phones can provide a sense of security for many, but they also act as a distraction. After New York decided to ban phones during school hours, many parents and others wonder about the safety of students during emergency situations.
Lena Aleksandrova is a junior who has recently been affected by a separate Yondr pouch policy in her private school. “I think students would be completely fine without phones if they follow instructions,” she says. “Think about younger students. They don’t have phones yet they practice emergency drills just like us.”
According to Common Sense Media, less than 51% of children under the age of 8 own a cell phone. Schools train all age groups to act in case of emergency, and these kids are no exception. When it comes to safety, phones are only part of the equation.
Lena says, “School staff and teachers are the hidden heroes that keep students safe.”
In a real emergency, would having your phone even help?
Giovanni Hernandez is a now 9th grader who started Yondr a year early before the state ban at IS.281. “Who knows if I would make it or not… I would at least want to text or call my loved ones for possibly the last time during an emergency,” he says. He then responded with, “Besides, I feel more comfortable with my phone on me and ready to use, not locked up in a pouch.”
I think that students should turn to teachers in moments of emergency because they are trained and have experience.
In the end, phones can help many feel safe, but schools already prepare students for emergencies. What matters most is trust in teachers and emergency drills schools practice.