When Norwood High students arrived for the new school year, there was no noticeable change in how phones are handled in the classrooms. However, it looks like there will be a big change in the near future.
On July 31, 2025, the Massachusetts Senate passed legislation that would ban phone use in school with the exception of students who use their cell phones for medical conditions, traveling off campus, disability accommodations, and IEPs (individualized education plans).
This bill would ensure that phone use during school hours would be cut down by a lot. According to NPR, around 31 states and the District of Columbia have already implemented phone bans in their schools. Massachusetts is on track to be another state added to that list.
Although banning phones in schools may be good for learning, there are also concerns of not having phones during emergencies.
“I think [they’re handled] fine, because we don’t have them on us during class. I think we should be able to have them on us during WIN. Banning them at a time when school shootings are becoming a lot more common isn’t good,” said sophomore Alexis Powers.
Some people also feel like just because other people are abusing phone use in class, the people who don’t use their phones shouldn’t be punished. A lot of students disagree with how the school handles phones in WIN, and there is a lot of discontent on the upcoming phone ban.
“I don’t [like how phones are handled in the NHS.] I think since WIN is supposed to be a study period, we should be allowed to have our phones by us and also the school kinda acts like everyone’s addicted to their phones, but not everybody is. I also don’t like how next year the state is making it a law. I think the phone holders in class are a good idea, but not in WIN or lunch,” said Freshman Cameron Shaw.