Aliso Niguel High School has enacted a new, stricter cell phone policy for the 2025-2026 school year that prevents students from using their devices at any time. Last year, phones were placed in the numbered phone pockets, but students could have access to them during wolverine plus time, yet that is no longer the case.
As the years go on, teachers and administrators have become increasingly worried about the distractions of technology that they have constantly changed the rules surrounding it to help students focus on their assignments. However, many students believe that the changes to the rules are now too strict.
Students have often been allowed to complete assignments on their ipads or personal computers, but even the device students use has been regulated to the school-issued chromebook in many cases. Personal devices may be easier for teachers to regulate which tabs their students have access to during exams; however, it is much more convenient for students to use their personal devices. Additionally, teachers have added more rules about the use of AirPods in classrooms because they felt they had been disrespected by unattentive students.
Kseniia Antipina (12) believes phones should be permitted during Wolverine Plus to listen to music. However, she admitted, “The teachers won’t feel as disrespected as they did when everyone had AirPods in during class.”
Phones can be an extremely helpful tool for students and teachers alike. People can easily contact each other and their families, a common student concern that the new school policy fails to acknowledge. Instead, a return from the phone pockets to phones being kept in backpacks, as long as they are still not used during instruction, would be a simple solution to the valid worry.
Amanda Elkins (10) said, “I like having my phone with me knowing that it’s safe in my backpack and easily accessible in the event of an emergency.”
Similar to the sentiment of Antipina, other students have suggested altering the phone policy to allow their usage during the designated wolverine plus time. Phones are already kept away from students for the vast majority of the day, so they should earn the right to use their phone for the 40 minute block of tutorial.
Alexa Manning (11) said, “Sometimes I need to use my phone for homework during tutorial.”
There are true upsides to having access to a phone during Wolverine Plus including being able to view pictures of textbooks or simply relax during the break between classes.
Manning also recognized that a benefit of the new phone policy at Aliso is that it does not include locking the phones in pouches that prohibit them from being used all day. Although the technology policy has gotten stricter–too strict for many students–other high schools in southern California cannot even use their devices during lunches or breaks.
