Recently, staff of The Charles Street Times have all come together and written about the NYC phone ban that has taken place this school year. For the first time since phones have really been out there, law makers have decided that now more than ever is the time when a phone policy should be put in place. With the ban, I personally haven’t had much of an issue with keeping my phone away. In fact, it’s been kind of nice to finally not see my phone or other phones in the corner of a desk. However, when I put my two cents in the conversation I made a point to mention how I thought it’s kind of silly to not be allowed to use your phone in a study hall or lunch. I thought that having that rule was pretty unfair because of the fact we learn all day and then when it’s time to just sit and enjoy a meal that now you can’t have the freedom to go on your phone. However, Lindenhurst High School is trying their best not to make lunch just for a boring period.
Lindenhurst High School has countered this idea of being bored with nothing to do at lunch with board games available for everyone! The collection includes games like Connect Four, Uno, Jenga, etc. In the lunch room, there are two entire tables of board games. The principal, Dr. Matthew Boccanfuso, has also announced the idea of movies being shown as well during lunch just so students are engaged and not just sleeping in lunch to get the period over with. Personally, I really do like this idea. I think it’s smart to try and still have activities on the side in lunch in case you maybe don’t have any more fuel for conversation. I really do think other schools should see what’s being done here and take it into consideration. As simple as a board game is, if you’re sitting alone at lunch and you see a group that you’ve been wanting to talk to, that board game could give you that reason to talk to someone new just by asking “Do you guys mind if I play with you?”. I also love how open Dr.Boccanfuso is to also implement new ideas for lunch activities. Boccanfuso has been very clear with students that if they have ideas for more activities in lunch that it’s not off the table and could be implemented.
With the phone ban, I’ve heard many sides to it. Those from my peers and others via social media chiming in on the new rule. As well from parents in my town and out about their concerns and likes about the phone ban as well. Again, to me you are allowed to be against it or all for it. We live in an age now where doing your work in school without wondering what’s going on online is hard. Even teachers and staff in this school are addicted to their phones even if they swear up and down that it’s only the next generation. Technology is ramping up faster than we can put a finger on especially now with AI being included in every website you’re on. Everyone should have an outlet for themselves that doesn’t just exist online. Even though board games during lunch sounds so simple, it could be just that outlet of no tech we need for now.
