Scroll after scroll, distraction after distraction, complaint after complaint. There was a need for change, and for the 2025–2026 school year, that change came across the Anaheim Union High School District. This year, a new phone policy was put in place throughout schools in Anaheim—actually, all throughout California, including Loara High School.
I’ve seen this new policy in action. My name is David Poe, and I am a senior here at Loara. I’ve experienced this new policy firsthand, and I have to say, I agree with it. I’m all in for no phones in class—period. I mean, we’re at school to learn and socialize, not to waste our time, energy, and skills on a brain-sucking device. As a community, we’ve been on our phones for way too long, and we need a break. This new phone policy gives us that break. Not only that, but it allows us to learn and take advantage of the opportunities here at Loara.
Personally, I’ve seen growth since this policy started. Whenever I walk into class, I immediately put my phone where the teacher asks me to, and then I get my work done. No distractions, no fidgeting—just me staying on task while also socializing with my peers. I’ve noticed the change! Since this policy was put into place, I’ve become way more social than I usually am. I like this change about myself because I see myself coming out of my shell. I’ve even taken the policy a step further by deleting social media to limit distractions even more. My goal is to avoid distractions and stay focused on the things I care about in life.
So, how is it working for Loara and its students? This new policy is being taken seriously—every class enforces the rule. That’s positive, not only because students stay more focused on their subjects, but also because it makes the job of teaching easier. Teachers can now teach without phones constantly interrupting. It also creates a safer, more private learning environment. However, that doesn’t mean the policy is 100% effective yet. Not all students are participating. In fact, I still see students sneaking their phones out in class. The reality is that not everyone will listen or care about the rules, no matter what policy is in place.
So, how can we improve the system and better our community? Honestly, it’s hard to say exactly what more can be done. At Loara, I think teachers are already doing a very good job of enforcing the rules. Many have us put devices away in pockets, and some even give consequences if we’re caught with a phone in class. Phones are dangerous because they’re addictive, and this addiction has spread throughout schools everywhere. One possible way to improve the policy might be to better inform parents. If parents are made aware of this crisis, they can support the rules at home and show their kids the harm and negative effects of phone use during school. Right now, I’m not sure most parents even know about the policy.
In my opinion, the new phone policy at Loara is good for us and is already helping. Not everyone realizes that. With this new policy, we can stay more focused and grow academically and socially. We can push ourselves to achieve our goals and prepare for life after high school. Being on our phones in class only hurts us, and I don’t fully understand why so many students let that happen. We should be living our teen years to the fullest, and phones can limit that experience.