Dining hall dishes out discussion: “A phone monitor?”

By Chloe Webster

I was sitting in my AP World History class when a teacher popped in and dropped off a bag full of phones. ​
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She’d had lunch duty the period before, and it was her understanding that lunch duty includes monitoring phone use. 

Students are confused about the rules because sometimes it seems like phones are allowed because most teachers do not confiscate phones if they see them.  

“Some teachers just ask you to put it away.” said Hallie Anderson (11),.

Dr. Steakley pointed out that the phone-free dining hall is in the All-School Handbook.

​But, according to Mr. Throckmorton, “Lunch duty now includes the expectation of encouraging a cell phone free dining hall.” 

His vision is idealistic, but that does not mean we can’t make an effort. There is value in conversation: a human to human real exchange of words. I think we as a collective group of “Gen Z-ers” might have forgotten that value. 

It is easier to send a text or Snapchat a picture. Because we have become accustomed to that ease, we react quickly when someone tries to take it away. We “want our free time” and “to have a break.”
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But isn’t that part of the day the only time we will be with all of our friends at once? 

So yes, while I get the feelings of restriction, the newness of having something taken away, I also remember that the girls at my lunch table will only be in within earshot for a few more years. I want to hear what they have to say in person.