During the school day, passing periods and lunch are some of the only times students get a real break. Yet many schools still enforce strict phone policies even during these short windows of free time. In my opinion, this isn’t fair at all.
Phones shouldn’t be banned during passing periods or lunch. Eating and walking from class to class are not academic times; they’re our personal time, and we should be able to use it freely—as long as it’s not harmful or causing trouble. Whether it’s checking in with family or simply relaxing for a few minutes, phones can be a useful tool.
Sure, some people worry that phones can cause drama and lead to distractions, but banning them completely doesn’t solve anything. It’s understandable that teachers and staff would rather students not be on their phones, since social media is a big issue and often does more harm than good. But we deserve a break too. Of course, we have our friends to talk to, but teachers are allowed to use their phones during breaks—so why can’t we?
Phones aren’t just for scrolling through TikTok. Sometimes we use them to take a minute for ourselves before walking into another classroom. Listening to music or even scrolling can be someone’s way of relaxing. This can help us calm down and be ready for our next class. These little things can actually help us feel more focused and prepared to learn.
The phone rule honestly just makes things worse. I know from experience that it only makes students more tempted to grab their phones from their bags to check notifications, text others, or scroll. Allowing phone use during passing periods and lunch could even help students become more responsible with their phones, knowing that after class, they’ll have a chance to check them.
At the end of the day, we just want a moment to breathe, relax, and connect with the outside world after being stuck in classrooms all day long—just like adults do during their breaks. Letting us use our phones during passing periods and lunch isn’t about being glued to a screen. It’s about having a choice and a little bit of freedom.
Panther Press serves as the voice of the journalism students at Glen Edwards Middle School. The views on this site do not reflect the views of WPUSD or the administration at GEMS. Our goal is to promote student expression and provide a platform for diverse voices and viewpoints within our campus community.
