by Lizzy Williams

Some teachers at St. Teresa’s Academy allow students to use cell phones in school while others do not. Most students are frustrated with when, where and how they can use their cell phones.

According to the St. Teresa’s Academy student handbook, cell phones are not allowed to be used during the school day and will be confiscated if used. Principal of student affairs Mary Anne Hoecker said the punishment for having a cell phone out without permission is a SBR category three and can include a detention.

“If a teachers wants to use cell phones on something she’s using, we support that,” Hoecker said. “If the students are using cell phones that don’t apply to the lesson, the school does not support it.” The school administration supports a teacher using cell phones in class related to the activity, but do not support cell phones being used during unstructured time or activity. Hoecker’s reason for not wanting students to be on their cell phones to teach students to use free time wisely and stay on task.

Math teacher Kelsey Romine doesn’t allow students to be on their phones during class. “I don’t have any activities that require cell phones, on purpose,” Romine said.

According to Romine, it is unnecessary and there are other ways of doing things that don’t involve cell phones. Romine doesn’t allow students to use cell phones in frees either. She allows an occasion exception when a student needs to do something important like call or text their parent.

Biology teacher Renee Blake thinks students should be allowed to use cell phones. “Any time a student has free time whether in activity or a free, they should be able to be on their phones,” Blake said.

Cell phones in Blake’s class are used as a way of communicating with the students. Blake uses a messaging system called Remind 101 which sends out texts to remind the students about upcoming assignments, due dates, and tests. According to Blake, for some activities in class it is better to use cell phones than not use them at all. Whether it’s during class or a free, students are allowed to be on their cell phones anytime in her classroom.

“Cell phones are a great media tool,” Blake said. “There are a lot of apps, and the students are familiar with it, so use the technology you have.”

“Cell phones should be used to help students during classes like a timer or to record the teacher’s instructions,” freshman Caleigh Wilson said.

According to Wilson, students should be able to use phones in any free time because it won’t distract them from anything. Wilson was in lunch in the commons and got an SBR and a detention for being on her phone. She thought this was unfair because it wasn’t distracting her in any way.

“I think there’s going to have to be something else changed in the future to have cell phones be used in class,” Romine said.