Why Can’t We Have Our Personal Devices In Class?

Story by Jordan Rouse. Photo by Alexander Santos. 

Students go about their normal school day, socializing, talking and working. But now, students are asking, “Why can’t we have our personal tablets and computers in class?” 

This story contrasts many scenarios that occur on a daily basis from the security checkpoints to pickups at the end of the school day. Students don’t understand the abrupt removal of personal tablets and computers, especially since they’ve been allowed to take them to class for more than half of the school year. In the student handbook, it states that no personal devices are allowed in class, but this was not enforced until recently. Students complain and this problem seems to be getting worse. For instance, there are often misplacements of devices that were given to administrators in the morning, especially when the administrators were not given the right key to retrieve them. So, students have to go on a search to find administrators with the proper key in order to get their belongings. And, students have been irritated due to the current removal of personal tablets at security checkpoints with some students feeling that it is too much considering that their personal computers were removed too.  

Next, there have been issues regarding websites that are needed for work in classrooms but are blocked. This issue has been ongoing and this is getting worse and more confusing as time progresses. 

Jamia Richardson in Ms. Crouch’s Advisory block

After one week of the confiscation of personal tablets, the administrators at the security check-in line confirmed that there are different administrators at each line and while one administrator might take the devices, the other might leave them inside of your backpack. This situation now leaves students to question why was a student able to sneak a device into class without getting noticed. One student is angry because there are certain services that are needed but are not accessible on school devices, especially some college websites. 

This has become a major headache for teachers as well. The school-issued tablets are good but the technology limits and blocks things like certain national geographic videos and other important websites used for education. And when we reached out to some students in tenth grade, they reported feeling distraught because of the tablets’ inability to access certain websites because they were restricted.

According to one administrator, the need to remove personal devices was caused by harmful messages some students sent to others and their solution was to use the school-issued tablets. But one teacher saw it differently and felt that the change caused students to adjust to new norms with the school devices. These norms included having to remember their passwords and having access to a limited number of apps. This teacher felt that the students needed their personal devices in order to complete classwork. 

The solution to this issue encompassess many viewpoints. So why don’t we let the students and teachers decide? Comment your choice below.

Jordan Rouse is a sophomore at Friendship Collegiate Academy.