Starting for the 2024-2025 school year, the Cherry Hill school district has come out with a new cell phone policy. This policy mandates students to not use cell phones in classrooms while they are taking credited classes. Students are also not permitted to use their cell phones in the hallways or bathrooms. The exceptions to this rule are homeroom, study hall and photography classes. The new policy is a departure from the previous system in which while  students were not permitted to use their phones during instruction, it was not strictly enforced and as a result many students used their phones with limited consequences.

Eastside believes that the new phone policy has cut down on phone usage, which previously caused serious distraction at East. Without cell phones taking attention away from lessons, students have an increased potential to learn. Since the release of the first smartphone over 30 years ago, phones have become increasingly addicting and distracting for students and adults around the world. By taking action on this issue, Eastside believes that the school district is setting up students for a less screen-dependent future. In addition, Eastside commends the East Administration for their strict enforcement and effective communication of the policy.

At the start of the new system, phones were not permitted during photography classes, preventing students from taking pictures with their cell phones. Recently, this piece of the policy has been changed for the better, and as a result those students are now able to use their phones for their classes. Eastside commends the East administration for being flexible with the policy, but encourages East to consider expanding the classes with exemptions.  For example, in Mind and Body 1 and certain science classes, phones can be a tool used to record exercises and act as stopwatches. For other classes, phones can be used to take pictures of assignments and be a convenient alternative to computers when playing learning games like Kahoot. While cell phones can impact education negatively, Eastside believes that there should be exceptions for certain classes where cell phones can be used as tools to help teachers, with the teacher’s permission. 

Eastside believes that while the new phone policy has only been around for a short time, it shows the promise of being able to help students cut down on distraction. However, Eastside also believes that the East administration should reconsider their policy to expand the exceptions to the phone policy to include more classes where cell phones can be used as tools.

What do you think about the cellphone policy? Do you agree or disagree with the policy? Email eastsidenewspaper@gmail.com to submit a letter to the editor. We may publish it after review.