Blitz competition sends students on cell phone fast for learning, prizes
If the latest school-wide competition has its desired effect, the only ring you’re going to be hearing is the sound of the bell. With the new ‘cell phone blitz,’ the school has introduced a new attempt to get students to pay more attention in class. Students wishing to participate turn their phone in at the beginning of every class period and then get their slip signed by their teacher. Students have the chance to win prizes if they can successfully go without their phone for the duration of one day (or more for the big prizes).
According to Principal Erin Kohl, this initiative started from an analysis of data.
“We have a group of staff members that are on something called the Wildcat Way team, and every time they meet they look at our data from referrals,” she said. “Based on this data they organize these blitzes or live announcements about certain things.”
This blitz was made to tackle one of the biggest challenges to student focus and learning. Assistant Principal Aaron Herm hopes this can initiate a positive change.
“Our number one office discipline referral is cell phone use in class,” he said. “We want to help students be able to disconnect from their phones and better focus on their learning.”
Senior Hector Heredia sees the need for such a program as evidence of the immaturity of his peers.
“We should just be old enough to understand that we shouldn’t use our phones in class,” he said.
Herm also emphasized that this isn’t just an issue with teenagers, but something that everyone struggles with.
“This is a problem all of us have, adults included,” he said. “The notifications and apps on our phone pull our focus away from things that are truly important.”
Kohl sees that phones hold a great status in everyone’s lives these days.
“It is really powerful when you think about how addicting anything electronic is,” she said. “I think of how many times I pick up my phone during the day and quickly go on social media.”
Herm shares this sentiment and thinks that phones are doing exactly what they were designed to do, distracting users.
“The apps and notifications are designed to capture our attention,” he said. “Going without our phones for a period of time helps us break that addiction.”
On the other hand, sophomore Katherine Baly-Peña thinks that naming this as an addiction is an exaggeration.
“People want their phones more because they feel secure with it, not because they are going to use it all the time,” she said. “If you need your phone for an emergency it isn’t a sign of an addiction.”
However, Kohl feels that this new program can really show people what life is like without their devices.
“When you put your phone away for a day or a couple of hours it can be really freeing,” she said. “You don't realize the impact your phone has until you leave it behind for a while.”
Baly-Peña, being someone who actually participated in this program, experienced the highs and lows.
“It was a really good way to show that I didn’t need my phone as much,” she said. “But people are only doing it for the gifts.”
With this blitz being incentivized, there is concern over student motivation to participate; Kohl sees how this can be a worry.
“It is going to be different for every single student, for some people an activity like this is the nudge they need to make changes in their lives,” she said. “Other people are just going to do it for the prize and go back to old habits.”
Kohl has a great deal of admiration for those who are choosing to participate because, in this day and age, phone fasting can be a difficult task.
“It is really hard to change these habits,” she said. “It takes a lot of perseverance and a lot of conscientious effort to do it.”
Herm sees this initiative as a source of learning for everyone.
“It’s okay to spend some time away from your phone,” he said. “Focus on what’s going on in front of you, the people around you, and the things that are truly the most important.”
by Fareeha Ahmad
Published February 21, 2023
Oshkosh West Index Volume 119 Issue V