Phone caddies are an enforced rule at Oakmont that students are expected to follow. Most teachers ask that you drop your phone off in the caddy as you walk into class. But there are mixed opinions on this practice. Some may say phones are a distraction, which is why there are restraints on cellphone usage. But some others think students deserve to have their phones, it all depends on who you ask. Let’s hear Oakmont student’s thoughts and opinions on phone caddies.

We asked our peers these two questions, “Do you like the phone caddies for students? Why or why not?” and, “Do you think students would be more distracted if they could access their phones during class?” Freshman Nolan Bodurtha said, “Yeah, it (the phone caddie) helps us stay focused, but if we are done working we should be able to use our phones.” 

Bodurtha answered the second question adding, “Yeah, because social media can be addicting for a student to keep checking their phone”. Bodurtha implied that if students had constant access to their phones during the school day, their interests would be more focused on their devices rather than on the work they are expected to complete and the knowledge they are obtaining.  

Phone caddies have been a heavily discussed topic here at Oakmont, and our fellow Spartan’s opinions may differ from others. Some students believe we should have phone caddies, while others strongly disagree. 

We asked another peer for a different angle on the caddies. We talked to Bailey Willyard; her opinion completely opposed Bodurtha’s. Willyard said, “I don’t like phone caddies because I feel like we should be able to keep our phones with us throughout the day.”  Willyard responded to our question, “Do you like the phone caddies for students?”  by stating that they remove students’ ability to provide “comfort” while near their phones. 

We also asked Willyard if she felt students would be more distracted if they could access their phones during class. She responded, “By having their phones during class they might be distracted but if they’re on their phone at the wrong time the teacher can always ask them to put away their phones.” It appears that Willyard has expressed mixed emotions towards the rules on phone caddies. But, she is leaning towards an anti-phone caddie. 

While Bodurtha and Willyard expressed opposite opinions, We talked to Ellie Bonilla to get a final insight on Oakmont phone caddie rules. We asked Bonilla her honest thoughts about the developing phone limitations and Bonilla stated, “I don’t mind them and I just put my phone in there and some people make it a big deal, but I don’t complain about it.” 

Bonilla replied to the second question by making a comparison from Oakmont to her old school, “Yes, I think students would be more distracted. At my old school, we didn’t have phone caddies, people would go on their phones during class, and their phones distracted them from the lesson.” Bonilla appeared to have a different perspective on the phone caddies than Budurtha and Willyard due to her experience with another school. 

Phone caddies remain a hotly debated topic here at Oakmont. Our peers have a range of opinions about the usage of phones during class but if we like it or not they don’t seem to be going anywhere.

 Based on these students’ points of view, what are your thoughts on the phone caddies? Did your opinion change or stay the same? Overall, everyone here has varying beliefs and every student has a unique outlook.