To the Editor,
This fall, Rye Country Day School has followed in many other school’s footsteps by completely banning the use of cell phones during school hours for upper school students. This decision appears to be a reversal of a course that the school had been on. Over the past years, it has been giving more freedom and power to students, such as loosening the dress code and opening up pathways for students to give constructive feedback.
A complete ban on cell phones is the opposite of this, restricting the opportunity for students to choose when to go on their phone during so-called “free” periods. This time is supposed to be for students to use as they see fit, whether that be hanging out with friends, reading a book, or doing homework.
The ability to choose is certainly a good thing. The vocal writer, speaker, and UChicago alum Alfie Kohn has written in his book “Unconditional Parenting,” “the way kids learn to make good decisions is by making decisions, not by following directions.” This idea encourages educators to give more freedom to students so they can learn by themselves.
I have first-hand experience with this. As an RCDS alum myself, I remember many times I would spend too much time on my phone during frees and be forced to stay up late finishing my work. But, over time, I developed healthier habits and became more responsible, understanding for myself how to manage my time. This is a trait I will carry with me for the rest of my life, and I don’t think I could have learned it by being restricted from using my phone.
Alfie Kohn also contends that freedom increases motivation to learn. In his essay “Choices for Children,” he argues that giving students more control over their education, such as when they want to work, helps reduce burnout and inspires them to want to learn for themselves. Referencing Shelley Taylor’s book “Positive Illusions,” which is a compilation of psychological studies, Kohn argues that “few things lead more reliably to depression and other forms of psychological distress than a feeling of helplessness.” It is no secret that burnout among high schoolers is on the rise, and a phone ban would only exacerbate this.
Now, to be clear, I am not arguing for a free reign for phones. Obviously, during classes and other organized events, phones should be banned. But during “free” time, students should be free to use their time.
If a student is consistently making poor decisions and it is negatively affecting their performance, then perhaps restrictions should be put in place. But that should be a conversation between administrators, parents, and the student. The goal should be for students to learn how to make healthy decisions, not to force them to work and improve their grades.
High school is the perfect time for students to make mistakes and learn their lesson. Teachers and grades are forgiving, work is relatively minimal, and their brains are ripe for development. If a student shows up to college never having learned time management, they will be woefully unprepared and their high school has failed in its most essential mission.
If a student doesn’t know how to balance their cell phone and school work, they will drown in their first weeks in college, where such restrictions are unthinkable. It is far better to make mistakes in high school than wait for college when support systems are far less prevalent.
High schools exist to prepare students for college and the world beyond. Academics is only a part of this; the much more important part, I would argue, is developing the mental tools the student needs to succeed on their own, a key one being time management. A phone ban places too much emphasis on raw academic performance and forgets the very goals of high school.
Now RCDS is not stupid, there has certainly been a rapid rise in smartphone usage and many are calling for action. Only time will tell if their approach is effective or if it hampers students’ development and merely kicks the can down the road to college.
However, I would argue that restrictions cause more harm than good. Students being able to choose when to be students during their free periods helps them develop time management skills and reduces burnout, providing them both the skills to succeed and the motivation to do so.
-Rhodes Boester
Rhodes Boester graduated Rye Country Day School in 2024. He is currently enrolled at Columbia University’s Columbia College.