Prairieview’s New Phone Restriction

Prairieview (PV) students are being affected by the new phone policy that has been instilled at PV for the 22-23 school year. The new phone rule has turned most students’ school days upside down since the policy is so different from other measures Waukee schools have taken against phones in the past. In previous school years, if a student’s phone was distracting them from class, the phone would be put on the teacher’s desk and picked up at the end of the period. Regardless, for the students at PV this year, the rules have changed. 

Prairieview students are not allowed to have their phones out at all during the day. The only exceptions are lunch, passing periods, and if the student has a study hall. If a student’s phone is seen at all during the day, it is taken and the student can get it back at the end of the day. However, if a student is on their phone a second or third time, the phone will be taken to the office where a parent will have to pick it up. Along with that, students get assigned detentions for both the second and third offenses. 8th and 9th graders alike have had to adapt to the new rule. 

9th grade Prairieview student, Melanie Mayer, expressed her frustration. She stated, “You can’t have it out, you can’t be doing anything on it. Even if it’s texting a parent, calling a parent.” She worried about being able to contact her parents. “I don’t like the fact that, if my parents need to contact me or get to me, I can’t answer them,” she added. Some students even expressed that they needed music to be able to concentrate. Mayer continued, “I focus well when I’m listening to music, but I can’t really listen to music, even though I learn better [with it].” Teachers insist that students listen to music on their computers. Most students, however, don’t think that this method works, since some students do not have access to music streaming services on school devices. 

The element of distraction that phones possess has always been a factor that schools have needed to face. Some students say that the idea of having their phones in their bags is more distracting. 9th grader, Haylee Stevens, emphasized, “It can help me focus more, but it really doesn’t because I’m always wondering what is happening on my phone at that moment.” Though teachers are hoping that the phone policy will eliminate distractions, just the notion of having a phone buzzing in a backpack would make anybody uneasy, since you would not be able to see what’s going on. “I feel like it can help my learning, but at the same time, it distracts me more knowing that it’s in my bag just doing whatever,” Stevens added. She also explained that the teachers you have really dictate if you have to obey the rule or not. “Most of my teachers let me on my phone if I need it, so I really think it depends on the teacher. Like Mr. Hughes, he’s one of the chill ones,” Stevens stated. 

9th grade English teacher Mr. Hughes expressed his take on the phone rule, “I like that most kids have just been responsible on their own, and not been on their phones. It’s just helpful at the beginning of the year to get to know the kids, honestly.” said Hughes. Mr. Hughes agrees with the new phone policy. However, he is worried about the students’ excitement and morale during the day. He explained, “I do think that there has been a little bit of a damper on their excitement, for some things. They seem less excitable and a little bit more like ‘ugh I just want to get class over with.’” Most students would love for the new phone policy to vanish from Prairieview. Mr. Hughes explained how Waukee district rules are constantly changing. “I could see it going for a long time, but things in Waukee change quite a bit, like year to year. So if it changed in a couple of years, like back to what it was, I would not be surprised at all,” Hughes stated.