Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School Bans Cell Phones To Boost Focus

Let me start this article with a disclaimer. I went to Oxford Hills High School and graduated in 1989. See how happy I was to be graduating?

My father was also the assistant principal at Oxford Hills the entire time I was there. Back then, we had to be worried that we were using a Sony Walkman rather than a smartphone. We could only make calls at two pay phones in the school lobby, and time was usually limited.

The current principal at Oxford Hills is Paul Bickford, with whom I grew up and graduated. So there's my connection to all of this. Let's move on to my thoughts.

Cell Phone Ban at Oxford Hills

According to the Sun Journal, on August 18, the MSAD 17 school board approved a new policy for electronic devices, including cell phones, effective at the start of the new school year on August 27, in an effort to create a distraction-free learning environment.

The new rule means that students must turn off their cell phones and other electronic devices as soon as they enter the building and keep them in their bags until the end of the school day.

How Prevalent is Cell Phone Use?

Principal Paul Bickford told the Sun Journal that he counted 43 students at lunch in the cafeteria. 42 of the 43 were nose deep in their smartphones.

If you're a parent who is worried about being able to reach your child while they are at school in case of an emergency, call the high school's main office, and they will be able to assist you.

I'm siding with the new rule because kids need to concentrate on their school work, not play Candy Crush or text classmates just to chat. Kids are there to learn. So let the staff do their jobs. Your kids will benefit from it.