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Image acquired from WIRED
It has long been the practice at AISG for Upper Secondary (US) students to have the privilege of being able to use their cell phones for responsible study and related purposes. In general, the notion of digital literacy and embracing technology as a tool for learning is strongly promoted at AISG, which contributes to making it an outstanding institution.
The events of March 5, 2026, demonstrated a sudden decline in student advocacy, self-accountability, and independence, especially for students granted the Upper Secondary privilege of independent phone use.
On the morning of a promising Rams Day, students were told that under no circumstances were phones allowed during this day of self-study.
There was no broad sense of surprise as the student body assumed that the rule was simply referring to irresponsible and dishonest phone use throughout the day, which has previously been a cause for regular administrative intervention, regardless of Upper Secondary status.
As time passed, it became more evident that what the administration had been referring to was instructing all teachers to confiscate cellular devices in a manner that undermined students’ trust: they were to take any phones they detected in their line of sight.
Rams Day, as Secondary Principal Mrs. Lori Marek describes, “was designed to give students a high level of agency in how they use their time.”
When asked about this new policy, Mrs. Marek justified it by saying, “Because the day operates outside the normal timetable, we wanted to remove one of the biggest potential distractions so students could make the most of that opportunity.”
The administration had done its homework, as Mrs. Marek said this decision was backed by research, saying it proved that “even nearby phone notifications can interrupt concentration and make it challenging for students to refocus.”
“It was a specific structure for a different kind of learning day, where reducing distractions helps students make the most of their time.”
As a result, the goal was that this policy would “help create a more focused environment for everyone,” she said.
It should be noted that (given that was the sole motivator behind the policy), with features like iPhone Mirroring on student MacBook computers and the ability to access social media and notifications on their laptops anyway, this policy would have lacked efficiency. But that’s beside the point.
While this practice is not unheard of in other schools, AISG prides itself on being different. There are ways to control student cell phone use, even in non-classroom settings, without making students afraid of seeing a teacher down the hallway.
It is common practice for students at AISG to walk across the hallway with their cell phone in hand and, in other cases, have off-screen conversations with their peers with phones lying on the table.
Even in “tech-free” spaces like the cafeteria, on-duty teachers tend to be lenient when they see unused phones, because they understand that the spirit of the rule is to avoid irresponsible cell phone use, not to be allergic to the sight of a 6x3in phone screen.
If students do break the rules, they allow exceptions with context, embodying a graceful practice that does the job of warning students without punishing them to the highest degree on the first breach- again, a unique and rewarding practice at AISG
This rule brings a culture of mutual respect rather than mutual suspicion, reinforcing the idea that students are capable of self-correction when given a measured warning instead of an immediate punishment.
By responding with discernment instead of blanket confiscation, AISG upholds its commitment to independence and accountability—principles that, in practice, discourage irresponsible phone use far more effectively than fear can.
If enforced strictly, a policy as strict as this would address the symptoms, not the cause, and, most importantly, would contradict the spirit of Rams Day- self-agency.
At the end of the day, most students spend their time studying independently, with no one looking over their shoulder to take their phone away. While students fully understand the role of administration in promoting productive activity, it’s best if guidance encourages responsibility rather than imposing rigid restrictions.
As the popular saying goes, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”
Yet on this Rams Day, the administration “instructed all teachers to take any cell phones they see throughout the school day.”
Plain and simple. No exceptions.
And I was a victim of this rule.
My phone was taken away at 11:46 a.m. outside of the B-MPR, by an authority citing the effectiveness of the school’s enforcement by saying,
Disappointingly, there were other phones in the area that went unnoticed, demonstrating the inconsistency of enforcement.
I was lucky enough to receive grace from this authority, who returned my phone three minutes later under the sole condition that I would turn it off and put it in my bag.
In that moment, I complied, recognizing the policy ultimately left little room for discussion.
As I write, I am unfortunately looking over my shoulder and checking my pockets periodically, ensuring my muscle memory of having my phone in my pocket does not incriminate me again.
When asked about how the administration attempts to balance strict enforcement and trust normally given to US students regarding phone use, Mrs. Marek commented, “In Upper Secondary, we intentionally give students more independence and trust, including flexibility with phones during a typical school day. Rams Day was not meant to change that approach.”
Unfortunately, for many, it seemed like that approach did change. Nevertheless, we are lucky to have an administration open to student voice, which Mrs. Marek acknowledges: “Finding the right balance with technology is an ongoing conversation, and student perspectives are an important part of that reflection.”
AISG is an institution blessed with beautiful and intelligent minds. We must ensure these minds do not grow accustomed to engineering tricks and mechanisms to hide their phones rather than engaging with the spirit of responsible use, a shift that will inevitably occur under rigid enforcement. This is what is likely going to happen if this phone policy is not changed for the final Rams Day of the year, and worse, the rest of the school year.
AISG prides itself on being different. I am troubled by the idea that perhaps, in the future, our school will conform to the practices of more conventional systems around us with band-aid level solutions.
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