With the beginning of this school year comes the beginning of a major change in cellphone policy in the Germantown Academy Upper School. From the 8 a.m. bell that commences the final 3 p.m. bell that dismisses students, cellphones are not to be seen.
Mr. Dave Samson, Head of Upper School, has led the charge in implementing new cellphone regulations, beginning with the limiting of spaces in the Upper School where cellphone use was permitted last year and now making the more drastic shift to the “bell-to-bell” policy.
“A lot of the research that is out there that we have found is that if schools can control those eight hours of the school day and eliminate cellphone use,” Mr. Samson said. “There are benefits, incredible benefits kids can have.”
In a letter sent out to students and families, Mr. Samson outlined the improvement of student mental health as a goal of the new policy, citing articles that explain the effects of limiting cellphone use during the school day on student mental health.
“I hope to see a student body that might be less anxious and might feel better about themselves, better about the community,” Mr. Samson said “More equipped to handle things, less reliant on needing to connect on the phone, to be able to handle things more independently.”
Whereas last school year, phone use was permitted in the library during most free periods, this year, students will not be able to use their phones during free periods. Students who have grown accustomed to scrolling or texting in their free time will now be forced to find something else to do during the period.
“It’s okay to be bored…There are times where people get out their phone because they don’t know what to do with that time,” Mr. Samson said. “And I hope through not knowing what to do with that time, they now discover something new, or they’re curious about something, or they’re like ‘I should go meet with that teacher.’”
This transition from limiting phone usage to certain spaces to a complete ban could also benefit students by increasing their productivity.
“I think last year I was distracted by my phone a lot in the library during frees since that was a safe zone, so I think I’ll get a lot more work done during frees without my phone,” Brooklyn Diener ‘27 said.
Another goal of the policy is to bring the GA community closer together. Students will hopefully have more opportunities to interact and connect with each other.
“I hope it builds community,” Mr. Samson said. “I hope it builds face-to-face conversation. I hope it builds more by being present in your lives, your school day, being present with your classmates, being present with your teachers.”
The community-building effects of limiting phone usage throughout the school day are evident in student interactions.
“Last year during lunch and flex, there were a lot more laughs and quality time spent together without our phones. I remember freshman year when we all had access to our phones, we’d sometimes be pulled away from each other and conversation because we were on our phones,” Diener said. “It seems we are more connected to each other without them. We’re forced to talk to each other, which I think is good.”
There is no definitive answer to whether this policy will last, but Germantown Academy’s administration will continue to stay up-to-date on the latest findings on the most beneficial ways to manage cellphone use in school.
“We’ll continue to respond to what’s in the best interest of young people,” Mr. Samson said.