Rethinking Connectivity: Emery Bans Cell Phones

The school email arrived on Tuesday, August 13, followed by a torrent of concerned texts between students and their parents. The Emery/Weiner School had just announced its new policy, a complete cell phone ban during the school day. To address a long-time concern about phones’ impact on kids’ mental health and emotional well-being, Emery officially decided to take a controversial step and implement a phone-free school environment.

“If we can create blocks of time, eight hours during the day where kids are not doing [electronics], we think it’s healthier and better for their mental health,” Emery’s head of school, Mr. Stuart Dow, stated. “You develop a skill set, enjoy life, and are emotionally present–even when it’s not academic, but just social–when kids are not on their phones and instead are engaging with one another.”

Research has suggested that the use of phones and social media can be detrimental to teens and their mental health. Emery’s senior leadership team used this research and their own experience to arrive at their final decision. “Parents have been nothing but supportive. From my desk and my inbox, one hundred percent support,” said Emery’s head of upper school, Dr. Joe Weinstein-Sears. “I think parents get that this is better for their kids.”

Students, however, have had mixed reactions to the new cell phone ban. Sophomore Leah Dinerstein believes the new policy is an overall positive change. “I was nervous at first, I’d never been without my phone during the school day,” Leah states. “But honestly, I find it less distracting in class and I can really be with and talk to my friends.” However, junior Jake Yomtov believes it makes communicating difficult, especially if he needs to contact his family. “What if there’s an emergency or my schedule changes?” Jake asked. “I don’t want to be stuck without a way to communicate with my parents or family if I need to.”

Mr. Dow said there’s always a way to contact parents or family members if needed – for example, coming to the office and asking to make a call. “If there is an emergency, we have landlines,” Mr. Dow stated. “Down at the front office, we can communicate instantaneously with every parent in the school about any emergency.”

Since the beginning of the school year, the student body has started to come around to the benefits of a more electronic-free environment. “Students’ [reactions] weren’t initially one hundred percent supportive, there was definitely some consternation in the beginning,” Dr. Weinstein-Sears said. “However, as the school year has begun, I’ve had more students who have admitted to me without prompting, that, actually, they appreciate the phone policy.”

The benefits of the phone ban are already evident. Students, my friends and I included, have more conversations at lunch instead of scrolling endlessly through social media and pay better attention in class. I hope these changes in our school community mark the start of a more balanced and healthy relationship with technology within our culture.