By: Gaurika Gupta, Managing Editor
On June 20, Texas House Bill 1481 urged schools in Texas to adopt and implement policies in accordance with the bill’s guidelines by September 18. Therefore, although FBISD had already enacted guidelines for personal device usage during last year’s academic term which allowed students to use their phones during passing periods and during lunch, the new bill enacted this year completely restricts students from using their phones during school hours.
With a decision as controversial as this, the state has received mixed feedback from students, teachers, and parents. While some point out that with Texas’ history of school shootings, restricting the usage of personal communication devices is putting students at risk, others argue that cutting off students from their phones has allowed them to socialize and be more attentive during class.
“One of the pros I see is that students are getting better at communicating with each other. The phones really have become an addiction with students,” AP Precalculus and AP Calculus AB teacher Teresa Nicholson said. “I also love that students are not zombies walking down the hallway with earphones in their ears and ignoring me!”
While most teachers appreciate attentiveness in their class which has been a result of this new ban, students have reported observing some of their teachers feeling overwhelmed with these new adjustments.
“In a way this ban gives people time to socialize, but the major con is that school is just centralized around technology so much that we really depend on it,” Senior Christina Lau said. “This morning my math teacher had to print out all passes because they can’t use digital passes anymore – it’s way more inconvenient – the cons outweigh the pros in a sense.”
Debate continues as people attempt to conclude whether this new law pulls the state back by decades or if students’ social health will see an upward surge in the coming years.
