A country-wide cellphone ban initially proposed in Flint, Michigan, is spreading more rapidly than previously thought. Teachers here in Woodford County have seen the phone pouch policy, and are on board to take part. This time, the fate and freedom of students is in their hands alone. 

Students: It is our turn to speak out, and we cannot pass this up. This past week, I was able to interview Ella Sayre, a junior here at Woodford County Highschool. Sayre was asked to share her thoughts on a recent occurrence in which she was asked to turn in her cellphone at a time she greatly needed it to communicate with her guardian. Here’s how it went:

When did this happen to you? Brief rundown of what happened?   

“It happened in my first block class when we had a sub. I needed to contact my mom in order to pick something up that I needed for an appointment after school. The substitute teacher that day had already asked me to put my phone up and place it on the front table a couple of times. Each time, I told her I needed to contact my mom for something important and she said she needed my phone on the desk immediately. She didn’t care. I told her no, respectfully, and she started calling the office. I left and went to the office to talk to my principles and other members of the administration. Later that day, the same substitute had other reportedly bad encounters with students, and was asked to leave the building. (This had occurred on several occasions in several different classrooms. I’m pretty sure she isn’t allowed back now).”

How did it make you feel that one of your personal belongings was being requested? Especially since you needed it for communication reasons at that time?

“I didn’t like that she was asking for my phone immediately without understanding or listening to the situation. If she would have asked me to put it away or listened and asked for it to go away after I would’ve 100% understood and respected that request.”

Do you agree with Flint Michigan’s “No Cellphone Policy” in schools? Why or why not?

“Personally, I disagree, because having access to a phone keeps us safe and keeps us from having to share personal information with adults we may not necessarily trust or want people to know.” 

To what extent do you believe having access to our phones at school keeps us safe?

“I think it keeps us safe and protects our privacy because certain situations, feelings, etc that are going on outside of school don’t need to be told and known by individuals(teachers, staff, etc) throughout the building. Does having phones create a distraction? For some people maybe but with most kids a simple correction, question or simply understanding the situation will get rid of that issue.”

Thank you to Ella Sayre for dedicating time to this cause. As young adults, it is our responsibility to utilize our voices at a time like this. There should be no question of our rights to safety, comfort, and privacy in our own school building. There can be change, but it starts with you. One post, or even one conversation can turn a situation around. Use your voices, Woodford County.

This is an ongoing story. Stay tuned for further updates.