In early August, Littleton Public Schools issued a new, more restrictive phone policy for the entire district. The policy has been met with mixed feedback from people at Heritage.
Before this recent policy change, the district allowed personal technology devices like phones and earbuds only when approved by teachers for educational use. The recent change is a strict, zero-personal technology policy for students in the classroom.
Ms. Emily Neinast, a history teacher here at Heritage, is relieved about the new phone policy, “I’ve fought the battle of no phones in my classroom for a very long time, and to now have that as a district-wide and school-wide policy makes my life a little bit easier.”
Raymond C. ’25 thinks that the new policy has barely changed anything. “Some teachers who didn’t have us put our phones in pockets before do now, but for the most part it hasn’t changed anything.”
The reason to ban phones is to limit distractions in the classroom. But not everyone thinks that a universal ban is the correct approach. Noah E. ’27 is annoyed at some of the effects of the policy. “I have to put my phone away in class, and when it’s independent work time I can’t listen to music and stuff like that.”
Neinast thinks that students are more likely now to comply with phone policies. “They know that there are greater consequences for their actions now. Knowing that it’s not just the school, it’s not just me who’s enforcing this policy, but that it’s coming from the district… makes it easier for them to want to follow along.”
Noah would make the consequences a bit less harsh if he could, “If you get caught the first time it should be a warning, and then the second time… it goes to the office and then your parents get involved.”
Heritage staff and students will continue to adapt to the phone policy throughout the school year. For now, the policy seems to be staying in schools.