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uring distance learning, students dramatically decrease our phone usage had unrestricted access to during class. This is just not realistic. their phones; their social and Unless teachers start taking every student’s educational needs were fulfilled through phone at the beginning of the class period, technology. Students are now being asked asking students to put them away is not to decrease their screen time after not effective. Instead, teachers should find being monitored throughout the 2019- creative ways to have students use their 2020 school year. The transition from phones and other technology during the online to in-person schooling should lesson. Students will find a way to use come with lenient policies in classrooms their phones in class, it is inevitable, so it regarding cell phone usage. is in teachers’ best interest to have students Strict phone policies in the classroom use them in efficient ways that promote limit students’ ability to take responsibility learning. for their own devices. If phones are too Expecting students to stay completely strictly monitored, students are unable to phone free throughout class is decide and think for themselves. School counterproductive and unrealistic, should teach students to manage their own especially after coming out of quarantine. time and deal with With all consequences if they the current STAFF EDITORIAL choose to let phones technological be a distraction to advancements, OPINION OF THE DRY GULCH their work. When the ‘no cell phones GAZETTE EDITORIAL BOARD entering a job setting in the classroom’ and some college policy is outdated environments, in the and in need of future, there will not be phone regulations a change. While a change in policy is but individuals are expected to know when not something teachers want to hear, it’s it’s appropriate to use their cell phones. inevitable and, arguably, necessary. It’s During high school, we should learn the understandable that teachers feel the need effects of using it at an inappropriate time on to prohibit phone usage in the classroom our own and therefore hold responsibility to increase the engagement of students, but for our actions. Responsibility should be there are better alternatives that achieve taught not simply expected in teenagers. the same solution. Rather than completely Teachers should take phone usage in banning phones in the classroom, students classrooms as an opportunity to teach should be allowed to use their phones students when and how it is appropriate to freely when the teacher isn’t actively use phones in a professional environment. teaching, such as work times. Once the Due to the pandemic, students have boundaries around when it’s appropriate participated in over a full school year of to use phones in class are established, it’s online distance learning. From at least up to teachers to put their trust into their three hours of being on zoom a day to students to be responsible. submitting every assignment from our Teachers should let students use their phones, school became synonymous with cell phones during work time and when technology, specifically our phones. The they aren’t actively teaching. Technology majority of notifications on our phones has become a big part of students’ lives; came from apps like classroom and expecting students to not use them during canvas. But now we are expected to forget class is an ineffective way to run the the last year of our online education and classroom.
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Dry Gulch Gazette
Dry Gulch Gazette is an open forum for students and does not necessarily represent the views of Arroyo High School or of the San Lorenzo Unified School District. We want to provide our readers with entertaining, informational, and relevant stories that will be worth their time. We intend to produce accurate and unbiased reporting, and we will therefore work to correct any significant mistakes. You should contact us at AHSGazette@gmail.com if you can find such a mistake in this publication. You may also email us to submit a letter to the editor, but we reserve the right to edit letters for length or accuracy. Letters will be rejected or published at the discretion of journalism staff.
Managing Editors: Wynne Bendell Claire Terzich GabrieElla Quiliza Renteria Staff Writers: Liliana Agatupu Haylie Blair Eden Buell Clarence Capunitan Scott Glueckert Thinh Huynh Jose Leon Ashton Menge Kevin Padilla Makani Reith Fifita Robert Romero Nicole Watson Yuki Wen Staff Adviser: Samved Sangameswara
