ROSEMONT, Pa. — Harriton High School is implementing a new cell phone policy this school year, Principal Stuart Warshawer announced.
Students will be required to put their phones in a caddy or keep them in their lockers. During free periods, students will only be allowed to use their devices in “Phone Zones.”
“Students bringing a device into the classroom, and do not lock it in a locker, they’ll be required to store it in a designated phone caddy,” Warshawer said in a video shared to students Monday. “The teacher will then place this phone caddy in a cabinet or other location out of sight from students.”
The policy will also apply to study halls and Instructional Support Lab (ISL) periods.
“Phone Zones,” areas where students with free periods can use their phones, are as follows: Library, JSL, Cafeteria and designated seating areas. Students are not permitted to use them in the hallways during free periods.
“Students can continue to bring personal devices to school, use them before classes begin, in the transitions between classes, during Lunch and Learn, and after school,” Warshawer said.
Two years ago, the district implemented its “Off and Away” policy, which requires students to turn off their phones and put them away during class periods.
“Honestly a lot of teachers didn’t really care,” Senior Isaac Gehlhaus said regarding Off and Away. “I feel like it varies for every single teacher.”
However, that regulation still allowed students to keep their cell phones in their backpacks, something not permitted now.
“Having your phone on your person or near your person can interrupt focus,” Warshawer said when explaining why the new policy had to be implemented.
Gehlhaus and Senior Thomas Cronan were accepting of keeping their phone in a caddy, but were concerned with the “Phone Zones” rule.
“What would it be distracting from?” Cronan said.
“If we are allowed to leave during a free, we should be allowed to be on our phone in the hallway” Gehlhaus said “Its just controlling something that isn’t an issue during free classes.”
Parents will still be able to contact the main office if they have an urgent message for their child.
“Our policy exists to help improve our learning environment and also help students feel better here,” Warshawer said, “not simply to limit their freedom.”