Kennedy Bates
Ever since the introduction of smart phones, the idea of prohibiting these devices echoed throughout school hallways. This summer, Ohio lawmakers made these notions a reality by passing House Bill 250, requiring public schools to implement a policy banning the use of cell phones during instructional hours. Across Upper Arlington High School, students have put their phones away, teachers have been monitoring the halls and the dynamic between students and cell phone usage has completely shifted.
By Jan. 1, 2026, every school district, community school and STEM school must adopt the cell phone ban. The ban prohibits the use of cell phones at any period during the ‘instructional day’, including transitioning between classes, meal time and recess on top of during class.
High schools across the state have used different methods to adopt the policy throughout their facilities. UAHS principal Andrew Theado explained that the school decided to implement the ban early and highlighted the ‘why’ behind the law.
“First we sent out information to parents and talked to them in a parent orientation and it was less about consequences, more about why we’re doing this. It wasn’t until the first day that we started to talk about consequences,” Theado said.
Theado discussed that they had to work with their staff when determining the implementation to settle on what was manageable.
“We felt that it would be very confusing if we used cubbies, so we decided to have the students just put them away. Hopefully everyone will see this as a mutual understanding. There is a law and we’re just working together as students and adults to implement it,” Theado said.
Across the high school, there have been differing ideas leading to complaints and support towards the ban. Vice Principal Tom Lombardi has been dealing with all kinds of responses from across our school district.
“I’ve heard from many students that they have enjoyed not having to worry about it and being able to focus better in class. Negative feedback that I’ve heard from teachers is that a lot of kids work well when they have airpods in when reading or writing. So, that’s definitely going to be an adjustment for a lot of people,” Lombardi said.
Some students and families had shared concerns coming into the new school year with anxiety around safety, as well as what to do in personal emergency situations.
“If there’s ever an emergency, and you take out your phone to call 911, you’re never gonna get in trouble for that,” Theado said.
He understands the importance of security, and doesn’t want a student to feel unsafe at school, or like the phone ban would act as a barrier.
The administration is also open-minded about some students with unique medical conditions who may need their personal device for health reasons.
“There are people, including students, adults too, who have medical conditions that are monitored by their phone. We work closely with the families and the nurses office to make sure that we have official plans in place so teachers are aware,” Theado said.
He also stressed that the staff is understanding and that there are exceptions that can be made on a situation-to-situation basis.
“We’re still reasonable and understand that there’s life happening even though you’re in school so we can work together to make sure you can stay connected,” Theado said.
He was able to give an example of something that the administration may be able to do for students when personal issues arise.
“We set up a scenario where the kid could go into the office, check their phone, connect with mom and then go,” Theado said.
There have also been several exceptions given to certain classes for academic reasons. Theado gives an example of these situations with the marching band’s circumstances and their inability to march with an IPad.
“We worked with the band directors and were able to get permission for students to use cellphones during marching band for those certain situations,” Theado said.
Whether it be emergency situations, personal affairs or academic activities, the administration is able to be flexible with the new cellphone ban.
”There are provisions in the legislation…and in the school board policy that we’ve adopted here at the district that allows for the principal discretion to let phones in,” Lombardi said.
Outside of the technicalities, Lombardi shared the main purposes for the cellphone ban.
“The main goals of the cell phone ban is really to increase engagement between students, whether in passing, during lunch, gold period, forum, whatever it may be, as well as increase your attention in class so you don’t have the distraction of the phone,” he said.
In this age, cell phones are an essential component of modern communication and everyday life. These devices have instigated substantial shifts in society leaving a profound impact on mental health.
Cell phones bring both positive and negative attributes to current culture. A survey done by Pew Research Center in March of 2024, found that 69% of teens say that smartphones make it easier for youth to pursue hobbies and interests. They offer easy access to information and enable people to connect through shared interest. However, that same study found that less teens feel favorably about smartphones’ impact on socialization. A smaller 30% said that phones help people their age learn good social skills.
UAHS counselor Heather Peebles feels that interaction among students throughout the school has improved since this recent implementation.
“It is a refreshing thing, that you do see people in the hallways interact a little bit more, making eye contact instead of just being lost in their phone,” Peebles said.
While most students are accustomed to phones being prohibited during class time, a major difference from past years is the inability to use phones during lunch, forum and passing periods.
“I just wish we could have the education piece of it and that you could choose how to use your time during lunch and forum, to me it just seems really restrictive,” Peebles said.
Forum is designed as a study hall, a time to see teachers or do homework, previously students have occasionally used forum as a time to unwind and take a break between classes, whether that be by watching a movie, catching up with friends or scrolling on their phones. With the cell phone ban in place, students are mostly limited to doing work during forums. Peebles thinks that it is important for students to be able to take a break during the school day and spend forum time how they please.
“Ive always been an advocate for forum. If you have one it should be the time that you use it in the way that you want to, it doesn’t always need to be homework homework homework,” Peebles said.
With this implementation being so fresh the administration is working to troubleshoot any problems presented and work with students to figure out how to enforce this law in the most productive way possible.
“I’d like to have more conversations with you all…We could work as a team, I would want to connect with you all and the staff to say what would make sense,” Theado said.
Katie Sexton (Senior): “I think that it wasn’t that big of an issue before. People weren’t really on their phones during active learning times. I want to listen to music in class sometimes and I feel like it isn’t that big of a deal. I also think we should be able to have them during lunch and forum.”
Nia Fonoti (Junior): “My old school had us put our phones in pouches in each class. I wouldn’t say our school’s policy is bad, but kids are still finding ways to have their phones in class and they are being sneaky about it. I think we should have our phones during our forums or during quiet class time.”
