Phone Ban Check-In: Life Without Phones at New Roads

Settling into school days without phones, New Roads faculty and students share their thoughts on the updated policy. 

With the new phone ban in place, New Roads students are adjusting to school without their usual screens. One student explains that the policy has made it easier to stay focused during class, a sentiment being echoed from the faculty’s perspectives, while some say it leaves them disconnected from the world. 

In a previous Jaguardain article on the phone ban, published in October 2024, the regulations were less harsh, and students were only required to submit their phones at the beginning of class. Now, it has become a complete ban, with no exceptions. This new change has caused a range of reactions, leaving students and staff with questions and strong opinions. 

This ban isn't just being implemented for New Roads students; it's happening all over California. “School districts, county offices of education, and charter schools in California will now be required to limit or ban the usage of smartphones in schools under a new state law after California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill on Monday. The new law requires schools to develop and put in place a plan to restrict or even ban cellphone usage in schools by July 1, 2026, and update it every five years,”  says ABC News. The article continues to talk about how the ban is meant to prevent cyberbullying and decrease rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide. 

Map of US states and their school phone policies. (Photograph: KFF)

“We are not a dictatorship,” says New Roads Upper School administrator Kenya Mcgee on the phone ban policy. McGee isn't “the biggest fan of it.” Of course, she doesn't encourage students to be mindlessly scrolling while in class. Instead, she suggests that students could have them in their backpacks to be able to use them during breaks. But being a part of the faculty, she understands other views on this. McGee shared that another reason for this ban was the hope of creating a space for students to be present and more engaged with the community. She referenced attending a concert a couple of years ago that prohibited phones, and that it was one of the best concerts she has ever been to. McGee felt more immersed in the experience, had no distractions, and could really just live in the moment and focus on what was in front of her. She hopes that students will have the same experience with this new policy. 

“Multitasking seems like a good way to work. You’re getting everything done and maybe also having some fun. But experts say that multitasking actually makes it harder to focus. For kids, this often means spending much more time on homework. The results might not be as good, either. This could be because they weren’t focusing well enough to figure out the best way to do an assignment. Or it could just be because they keep staring and stopping to look at their phone,” says the Child Mind Institute. The article also discusses that kids with ADHD are far more vulnerable to tech distraction because social media apps are designed to be very easy to focus on. Furthermore, an article from Mill Valley News states that, "Notifications are taking over the lives of teens.” According to a student named Wheelock, “It’s definitely hard to ignore my phone when I’m getting notifications and I want to constantly check it, but so I’ve kind of learned to just ignore them.” 

   Lola Koskoff, a freshman, holds strong opinions on the ban. She feels that the ban is unnecessary, and thinks that students should be allowed to keep their devices with them. Lola explained that she gets “major FOMO (fear of missing out)” and is constantly worried about something happening in the world that she isn't aware of. Surprisingly, Lola said that she finds it harder to focus in class without her devices, because she is stressed that she missed something online or that her family may be in crisis. Lola believes everyone feels the same way and that it negatively impacts the majority of students' moods. Additionally, Lola described the ban makes her feel “disconnected,” and gives her "separation   anxiety.”

 (Photograph: iStock)

Caroline Foos, Upper School administrator and math teacher, states that the school made focus groups of students, asking them questions about the ban for a whole year, which led them to this new policy. Foos has seen a lot more laughter, interactiveness, and many more opportunities for students without their devices. And, as a result of the ban, she has had phones stay overnight in her “phone graveyard,” as she likes to call it. She wants students to learn how to build boundaries and balance life with technology -- especially because of how big a role it plays in our lives.