For the 26-27 school year, Marist administrators have provided freshmen and transfer students with Marist-modified iPads, restricting social media, filtering content, and ensuring that students stay on task. 

There are divided opinions surrounding this change.

“I feel like we can’t do anything on the iPads. There are more and more restrictions every day,” said freshman Kaylee Ibarra. “We can’t download anything…everything is blocked.”

Freshman and transfer students are restricted from social media, ChatGPT, and streaming services. And although freshmen rely on a Marist-supplied device, sophomores and upperclassmen continue to use their own devices without monitoring. 

“I’m glad we have our own iPads because we have more privileges,” said junior Alyssa Alcaraz. “We get to use our iPads at home and play games. And after seeing the new freshmen iPads, I’m grateful to have an iPad that is mine to keep.”

Some teachers believe that this is the only way to keep students focused and on task. 

“In my opinion, it’s unrealistic to expect a 14-year-old to choose listening to teachers over playing games on their iPad,” said Religion Department Chair Kathleen Greenan. “In an effort to continue to use technology in the classroom, we want students to be focused on what they’re supposed to be working on, and the only way we’re able to do that is to own the devices ourselves and then provide them to students.”

In the long-run, teachers expect school-provided iPads to benefit students.

“I really do believe that kids know that they’re addicted to their devices, and they don’t know what to do about it,” said Greenan. “I think that we are going to see better engagement in the classrooms, better learning, and better overall mental health.”