A recent spike in hoods, headphones, phones, and tardies at Tosa West have led to principal Frank Calarco and teachers to reinforce these rules.

On March 1st, an email was sent to the entire student body by principal Calarco in hopes that reinforcing the policies at school will help to create a better learning environment. Both students and staff have varying opinions on the topics discussed and changes in the classrooms, after the email was sent out. This topic is very important to many students and causes conflict between the students and teachers enforcing the policy.

“It seems as if everyone feels they have to have their phone and they have to check this very text,” said Tom Norstrem, english teacher.

When students feel they need their phone they often get stuck with the consequences that are being enforced even more so now. One thing that some students do not know is that teachers feel the same way.

“Cell Phones could be educational but we do not need them because we have chromebooks. You have to weigh the distraction piece with the educational piece of it. I think what the students need to understand is that we’re trying to create the best learning environment possible,” said Frank Calarco, principal at West.

From a teacher’s point of view, they think there are alternative learning tools and they don’t want to have to deal with the distraction of a cell phone.

“It’s a conflict that honestly teachers don’t want to fight, we don’t want to be the phone police,” said Tom Norstrem, english teacher.

Teachers do not want to have to step in, but the punishments are getting taken more seriously now. At first, the teachers should be just talking to the students. The second time there’s a problem, they’re talking to the students after school, the third time the teacher should give them a half hour detention in their classroom, and after the fourth time, it becomes as an office referral.

“Cell Phones could be educational but we do not need them because we have chromebooks. You have to weigh the distraction piece with the educational piece of it. I think what the students need to understand is that we’re trying to create the best learning environment possible,” said Frank Calarco, principal at West.

Many students are still hopeful that phones can be used for education, though there are other ideas on how to solve the problem of students continually breaking these rules.

“Students should be able to use their phones during passing period and during lunch, because it’s not interfering with anything and kids will be less tempted to use their phone in class,” said Abby Schiller, sophomore.

A lot of the students have even stated that they would be happy creating a less strict version of the rules and have offered ideas on when they should be allowed, with the exception of during class.

 “A lot of the times when you’re on your phone you’re texting your parents or trying to do other things like that, I think it would be a good idea to find a middle ground,” said Evie Perkins, freshman.