Are Phone Lockers at School Necessary? Pros and Cons of Phone Policies

In the upcoming 2025-26 academic year, schools across the United States, Europe, and beyond, are introducing new phone policies. These will require students to place their phones in a locker or a sealed pouch to prevent distractions during school hours.

The new phone policy has gained support and criticism from parents and students. Many who support the phone policy state that it helps keeps students focused and less likely to get distracted by the phone. While those who criticize the policy state that it won’t make any change and that this policy can be approached in other ways, such as teaching responsible technology use to students.

But the question many want answered is: How effective is the phone policy actually?

To be clear, schools don’t have bad intentions when implementing phone rules, even though sometimes it may seem overly strict. Many schools present the phone policy as a way to reduce distraction, cyber bullying, and it enhances social interaction

Schools in France and Italy have reported that students are more focused and more likely to interact with their classmates and peers. While schools in Scandinavia have a different approach by teaching their students responsible technology use rather than banning phones in school.

From personal experience, and research, I have come to the conclusion that although schools have good intentions, they do tend to exaggerate with phone policies, which can lead to students feeling like they’re under constant surveillance, which is not the case.

What schools can do rather than just banning phones, they can take time to teach their students how to use their phones and devices responsibly, because as effective as this phone policy seems, it won’t really teach students a valuable lesson. Schools can make phone policies while also teaching responsible phone use. This way, schools can be “distraction free” while also promoting responsibility online