There are many opinions floating throughout the Marist hallways regarding the phone caddies. Some students don’t mind them, and others cannot stand them, but have they ever thought about if they are necessary in every class?
Marist High School made the decision to introduce phone caddies into all classrooms about three years ago. This was due to the fact that technology, specifically phones, may have been affecting the students’ academic performances.
“We know that technology is both beneficial and distracting. The goal of phone caddies is to aid in lessening distractions in the classroom so that students can focus on their learning,” said Director of Teaching and Learning Mrs. Gaffney.
Students admitted that they have the same abilities on their iPads as they do on their phones. Teachers are aware of this fact as well.
“Yeah, I think everything I have access to on my phone is also on my iPad because everything syncs to my phone,” said freshman Zoe Norris.
“Phone caddies are only a partial solution to lessening distractions as many students can still text via their iPad and are continually interrupted by notifications popping up throughout class. This can make it hard to focus on instruction or a singular task,” said Gaffney.
Students are divided on whether having their phone in the caddie during class actually helps them pay attention.
“I think it can go both ways,” says Norris. “In some classes I feel like it would help me if I get bored or something, but sometimes I don’t really pay attention to it if I have it.”
“Yeah, sometimes I would say that if I’m not near it, I definitely will pay more attention to what’s going on in the class and pay more attention to my work obviously,” says freshman Madelyn Tracy. “But sometimes I feel like we should be able to have it just because if there ever is a situation where we need to contact someone important.”
Staff members find an understanding about why students don’t want to be away from their phones the whole school day.
“We are all accustomed to having our phones with us at all times so I can understand if students dislike parting with their phone during class,” said Gaffney.
Some students think that the phone caddies are a necessity during school hours.
“I think overall phone caddies are necessary because I know that if I was having a hard time doing my work or if I was just bored in general, I would go on my phone instead,” said Norris.
Although some disagree.
“No, I don’t think they’re necessary because I think everyone is capable of just putting their phone away if they really want to,” said Tracy.
