The freedom of utilizing cell phones throughout the school day is a freedom common amongst prep students. However, following recent changes to the handbook, the new cell phone policy will be imple- mented throughout the academic year 2024- 2025. Cell phones are now forbidden in various parts of our beautiful prep campus, such as the Figge Theater, the Chapel, the George Center, and most importantly, the South room.

There have been many mixed reactions to this seemingly dramatic change, after all, this was something that the boys hadn’t had problems with in the past. Ac- cording to the updated guidelines, students are required to turn off their phones and store them in designated “phone caddies” at the start of every class. Phones are only permitted in between classes, though some teachers may grant exceptions for edu- cational purposes. The Dean of Students strives to promote more socialization during lunch periods and solve the “screen epidemic” that has been spreading all over campus in the past few years.

However, not everyone is thrilled. Many students have voiced their frustration, arguing that the new rules are too restrictive and may cause inconvenience, but after considering the pros and cons, the academic dean of students believes that this policy will facilitate opti- mal environments for productivity in every classroom, eliminating distractions to allow students to completely immerse themselves in the class and focus in their studies. As the policy takes effect, it remains to be seen how it will impact student behav- ior and academic performance. The new phone policy will continue to be highly ob- served, with potential re- visions based on feedback and results. For now, the community will navigate this new chapter in high school life, as students learn to adjust to a less connected — but perhaps more focused — school day.

After all, the prep com- munity is more connected than ever without the use of phones, as the principle of brotherhood unites us all in one.