High School Bans Cell Phone Use, Sparks Student Outrage

Photo byPhoto by Keira Burton on Pexels

A Houston high school is preventing students from using their cell phones in school which is following a trend that other state schools have adopted. Beginning Monday, February 5, James Madison High School students are not allowed to use their phones during school hours. This is the result of several student fights over phones.

Now that phones are becoming a need in schools, students had a walkout this past Friday over the policy change. The school called for a lockdown right after this happened.

Students who bring their phone to school have to turn them in to the front office at the beginning of the day and then pick them up at dismissal.

Principal Edgar Contreras said he was doing this for school safety according to Click2Houston.

Contreras sent a note to parents that said according to The Daily Mail:

Beginning on Monday, students will not be allowed to use their cell phones — at any time — while they are inside the school building.'

Several students voiced their concerns according to KHOU.

Senior Amba Adoghe said:

“There were a lot of fights that happened. It was mostly the same people.”

Adoghe added:

"...parents need to be able to contact their children if there is something going on.”

Veronica Vargas is the older sister of a James Madison High School student said:

"Overall, I think it's not fair at all."

Students who have their phone during school hours will get a warning. Then the second offense is a $15 fine.

States ban student cell phone use

The following states have restricted phone use in schools according to The Daily Mail:

• Florida
• Ohio
• California
• Colorado
• Maryland
• Connecticut
• Pennsylvania
• Virginia

In another article, it said schools that banned cell phones showed students had higher test scores by 6.4% according to The Hill.

What do you think about the cell phone ban?