Leave the Phone at Home — by Lily Bennett, 8th grade
Next month our grade is going on a three-day trip to the Smoky Mountains. Last week, the school announced a new rule: no phones on the trip. Many students were upset, and so was I at first. But after thinking about it, I have changed my mind. I believe the rule is a good one.
First of all, a school trip is a chance to be together. On our last trip, half of the bus was looking at screens instead of at the view or at each other. Without phones, we will talk, sing and play games — the things we will actually remember.
Second, phones can cause problems. Students take photos of others without asking and share them. Somebody always feels left out of a group chat. On a trip, where everyone sleeps and eats together, these problems become even bigger.
Of course, parents worry. They want to know that their children are safe. But the teachers will have phones, and they will send updates and pictures to the parents every evening. In an emergency, parents can call the teachers directly.
Three days without a phone is not a punishment. It is a gift. Let's give it a try.