When I woke up that fearful, nauseating morning, I knew what was to come, and I couldn’t do anything to prevent it. As I went downstairs to eat my breakfast, I savored my last couple of minutes of precious phone time watching a show on Netflix, my mom asked if I was ready to go, and I dragged my feet as I got into the car. Pulling up to school, I closed my eyes. Maybe I was just dreaming? After a couple of seconds had gone by, my mom told me she had to go to work. I sighed in disbelief at the unfortunate truth. Walking across campus, I greeted my advisor, who had been waiting for my precious phone, and that’s when I had to say goodbye. As I walked away, I felt that moment every student experienced that day: withdrawal.
Our beloved iPhones had to endure a jail sentence for this entire day. Some went to Upper School Administrative Coordinator Lindsay Perkins’ office, others went to advisories spread out against their will across campus. The withdrawal effect, along with realization, came into play as students started the dreaded walk to class.
“No Cell Phone Day” took place on April 17, a day designed for students to interact and connect with their peers as well as teachers. Students handed in their phones before 8:00 a.m. classes to either their advisor or Mrs. Perkins’ office, where they were held until the end of the school day at 3:15 p.m. This day marked our second of the year, as KO tried this experiment in the fall as well. While reactions were mixed, the day raised important questions: How much do we rely on our phones? And what can happen when we take a break from them, even just for a day?
Phones are everywhere at KO. Most students have theirs out as they walk from class to class. In classrooms, teachers have spots for students to place their phones during class, because students just can’t focus with them; it takes away from learning. Walking to lunch, you may see a group of students all on their phones with AirPods in, not even socializing or looking up at one another. It seems that all communication is done on phones, and it can take away from actually talking to people face-to-face. Because of this major issue, Dean of Students Kata Baker decided to create No Cell Phone Days.
When phones went away on April 17, some agreed that this was a great idea and noticed a difference in the way people interacted around campus. Director of Academic Planning Carolyn McKee mentioned the effects she saw. “I feel like there’s more interaction on campus,” Ms. McKee said. “I noticed I had more conversations with kids in my classes and just in the hallways because they weren’t attached to their phones.”
Ms. McKee wasn’t the only one to agree; other teachers, such as Upper School history teacher Ted Levine, had the same thoughts about the day but brought a different perspective and proposal. “Maybe we could have no computer days,” Mr. Levine said, “because everyone can do what they do on their phones on their computers now.”
I couldn’t agree more with this point. Since Apple computers like MacBooks can do almost everything a phone can, such as texting through iMessage, FaceTime, accessing social media, and streaming music, students with them still have access to many of the same distractions as they would on their iPhones. On the other hand, students using regular laptops, like Chromebooks, or other PCs often have more restrictions and can’t do as much. This creates an unfair situation where some students are essentially still using their phones in a different form, while others are fully disconnected. It can defeat the purpose of No Cell Phone Day if certain students can still rely on their computers to do what their phones normally would.
Speaking with my advisory, the conversation around “No Cell Phone Day” brought out a variety of thoughtful perspectives. All eight students agreed that while the idea behind the day was positive, they felt it wasn’t as effective as intended. Some students questioned whether it truly made a difference. “I feel like it’s not as beneficial as they want it to be,” freshman Isabella Tippner reflected. Her comment suggests that while the goal of encouraging more in-person interaction is clear, it may not always result in noticeable change.
Freshman Amir Waterman shared a similar view. “It’s for a good cause, but bad execution,” he commented. Amir’s point highlights that although the purpose is meaningful, the way the day is carried out may limit its impact. For example, some students still find ways to bend the rules, like using their computers for non-school purposes, which can undermine the overall effort.
Other students around the school also had similar thoughts. Freshman Janna Haxhaj and Elsa Zhuta both thought that without their phones, it would be hard to communicate with their parents. “Sometimes after-school sports get canceled, and I wouldn’t be able to tell my parents until the last minute,” Elsa said. “I live about 30 minutes away, so that would be a big problem.”
Janna also mentioned that there are disadvantages and advantages to the day. “I have everything on my computer that I normally use my phone for,” Janna said. “We were using our computers for like half the day, and in all my classes, I was on my computer. So I think it didn’t really make a difference.”
Aside from students, teachers also thought that the day would be more effective if we had a “no technology day” and didn’t use computers. My advisor, Upper School math teacher Tracy Deeter, said that she supported the idea but suggested it could go even further. “I think it’s fantastic, but I don’t think all kids follow through with it,” Ms. Deeter said. “I think we should include computers in addition to phones.” Her comment points out that distractions in class come in many different forms.
Mr. Levine had the same thoughts when it came to comparing phones and computers. “So what’s a cell phone, other than a phone?” he asked. “It’s a computer. It’s a computer in your pocket.”
The idea that phones are more than just used for communication becomes especially relevant in the classroom, where students start to rely on their devices more and more for educational and personal purposes.
Phones can also have a positive impact on students, and it is arguable that the day took that time away from students. Some students see their phones as a way to decompress, whether it’s listening to music, scrolling through something of interest, or taking a quick mental break from the rush of a school day. For freshman Kayla Dunkley, listening to music is what helps her relax. “There was one time my phone really helped when I was feeling overwhelmed,” Kayla said. “I listened to music and stepped outside.” After a few minutes, she said she felt calmer and more in control.
Phones can have a negative effect on students, especially when it comes to a classroom, making “No Cell Phone Day” a necessity for our school community. They have the potential to disrupt focus and hinder productivity among students. For instance, students might feel the need to check social media during lessons, respond to texts under the desk, or get distracted by games or notifications, oftentimes, without realizing how much class time they’re missing out on.
“Any time you have technology in history, it’s always disruptive,” Mr. Levine said. “It’s a good tool, but disruptive technology.” Even when phones are silenced, the temptation to check them can pull attention away from the teacher and the material being taught. In a school setting, this can be especially problematic, as it detracts from the quality of learning and makes it harder for students to stay present and engaged during classes.
“No Cell Phone Day” revealed both the positive and negative effects of disconnecting. On one hand, many students felt more present, engaged, and connected with those around them. Without phones as the go-to distraction, some spent more time talking with classmates between classes, drawing, playing games during community time, or even going outside to enjoy the weather. On the other hand, some found it frustrating not to have access to music on their phone, key communication with their family outside of school, or the comfort of their regular digital routines.
Despite these mixed reactions, the day was a big success in encouraging reflection on our dependence on phones. It opened up conversations about how often we truly need them, and how often we might not.
Taking a step back from our phones, even just for one school day, can remind us of the value of real-life interaction that often gets lost behind screens. While we may not want to give up our phones entirely, myself included, sometimes it’s important to pause and ask ourselves: could we truly benefit from putting them down more often?
