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COLUMBUS SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
VOL. 61
ISSUE 1
October 2021
New Phone Policy: Phony or Fair?
Ruthie Saar, XII
Recently, some changes regarding cell phones have been made in the Upper School. Dr. Kellen Graham, Director of Upper School, announced at the beginning of the school year that phones are now not only prohibited during class, but also during lunch, morning meetings, and advisory. Why did he come to this decision? Intrigued, I asked him, and I also sought out students’ opinions on the new policy. When asked about why he implemented this rule, Dr. Graham thoughtfully explained: “I think there was this growing sense of wonder, not only for me, but also for a lot of faculty and staff [...], about what might happen if we put our phones away […]. What do we gain, and what do we lose here in school if all of us are on our phones?” Dr. Graham pointed out that CSG chose to not be a phone-free school because we want students to learn how to manage their phone use. In terms of how the policy is being enforced, Dr. Graham states that it was decided that “it’s all about collective enforcement, meaning that anyone has the right to turn to a community member [or] classmate and say, ‘Hey, put your phone
away,’ or ask, ‘Do you need to be on your phone right now?’” After pondering for a moment between bites of his granola bar, Dr. Graham continues: “In everything we do at CSG, we assume the best in people. We assume that if we call you out for being on your phone, you’ll put your phone away and moving forward, [...] be mindful.” Dr. Graham admits that even he forgets about these new guidelines. He chuckles, “My challenge is I carry my phone and my computer around almost everywhere I go, and those tools are what connects me to my calendar [...]. You’ll sometimes see me buried in my phone trying to figure out where to go next.” We’re all human, it seems. Interested in students' opinions, I interviewed three individuals about their thoughts. Carly Priest, XII, reveals, “I think more positively about [...] no phones at lunch. If I’m with all my friends, it’s not very social if people are on their phones the whole time [...] However, [...] in advisory, there are times when no one is talking or doing an activity, and in that case, [...] I think it’s okay to pull out your phone.” Some people have even been caught using their phones in
the dining room! Addie Bell, X, confesses that she notices that “at lunch, people look to see that there are no teachers around and try to sneak it.” Rhian Wallace, XI, clarifies: “I get where Dr. Graham is coming from, [...] but our new age interacts with people and our phones. It’s part of our generation; like, everything is on our phones and we use them to communicate.” Some agree with Rhian, arguing that phones are ingrained in our pop culture. They also believe that there are benefits to freedom of phone usage, such as access to calendars, instant messaging, and taking photos of class materials. CSG is not alone in changing its cell phone policies. In fact, many schools nationwide are trying their hand at this new tactic. For instance, Carroll High School, about forty-five minutes away from CSG, has a strict no-phones policy. Further away, in 2019 in California, a law was implemented that requires schools to establish a policy to limit or prohibit phone usage at school. It seems that only time will tell how this new system will work for us, but for now, remember to put your phones away.
Spotted: Dr. Graham with his phone at school! Photo courtesy of Ruthie Saar, XII.
Featured in This Issue: - The History of Scholarship Walk - Meet the New Faculty in Upper School - Starbucks Review: Is Pumpkin Spice Everything Nice? - A Guide to Surviving Freshman Year - Senior Feature: Emma Spangler
The Fall of Christopher Columbus: Indigenous Peoples' Day Ciara Latham, XI
In 2020, we saw peak interest in matters of social justice. People of color across the nation declared “enough was enough.” That June, I attended a Black Lives Matter protest outside of Columbus city hall. Hundreds of protestors, black, brown, and white alike, were crying out for an end to centuries of oppression. They marched at the feet of a gleaming, bronze statue of Christopher Columbus that towered above. The irony of this scene was horrifyingly evident and representative of the relationship between the U.S. and its communities of color. The immortalization of this controversial figure prompted me to investigate how other communities felt. Earlier this month, cities throughout the country observed another year of Columbus Day: a holiday to celebrate the famous-- or in modern interpretations, infamous-Christopher Columbus. Christopher
Columbus’ arrival to the “Americas” marked a breakthrough in exploration, despite his directional shortcomings. Simultaneously, his arrival marked the beginning of centuries of exploitation and violence against
native inhabitants. Today, we can reclaim that second Monday in October to honor those lost generations through Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Around the globe, different cultures of Indigenous people exist. A
The statue of Christopher Columbus no longer stands outside the City Hall. Photo courtesy of Ciara Latham, XI.
person indigenous to the United States may be known as Native American. Some native people may even prefer the term American Indian. On October 8th of 2021, Indigenous Peoples’ Day was declared a national holiday by President Biden. Upper School Spanish teacher, Dr. Miklos has studied the impacts of colonization on indigenous populations. She says, "The change to this holiday helps shed light on the havoc colonization wreaked on indigenous groups and their [way of life], from Central America all the way down to South America." The movement to introduce IP Day intends to offer historical truth about the conquest of the New World. Instituting Indigenous Peoples' Day nationally serves as a memoriam for not only the lost lives, but the lost stories of indigenous Americans. A large number of the CSG population lives within Columbus city limits. Columbus, Ohio is one of the many cities throughout the nation named after Christopher Columbus.
As reported by USA Today, the city of Columbus has not celebrated Columbus Day since 2018. As a result of the intensifying social climate in 2020, the country saw a push to remove offensive statues and symbols that represent outdated ideals. According to WBNS 10-TV, that very statue of Christopher Columbus from city hall was removed on July 1, 2020. Mayor Andrew Ginther called for a replacement to better highlight diversity. Still, without a new statue to stand over Broad street, many feel the city Columbus has yet to represent all its people. To start a process of reconciliation, the city needs those citizens to take action. Those who feel passionately about supporting the Indigenous population can start local by contacting government officials and representatives and demanding city-wide recognition of Indigenous peoples day. To learn more about these issues or get involved visit this list of curated sources.