As a new 4th form student living in Foster, I have adjusted to the phone policy and I think it has had a positive impact on my sleep, which is its intended purpose. I usually get back to my dorm at around 6 a.m. from hockey practice, then go to school, have a cross country practice, and then dinner. At this point, I am very tired and after doing most of my work during study hall, I take my phone to the phone lockbox and go to sleep around 10 p.m. Even though lights out is technically an hour later at 11 p.m., the potential extra hour of phone use does not really affect me too much. Some nights when I have more energy and want to stay up it helps me limit my phone usage and wind down at night, so I don’t stay up too late, which affect my energy the next day. I think for a lot of people having a new rule on phones was a difficult adjustment as late at night, your phone is one of the only forms of entertainment that you have. 

                When asked about his opinion on the phone policy, Dorm parent in Foster Dylan Jennings stated, “I am strongly in favor of it. I actually think it’s a policy that the school should look at implementing across the board for all grades because I think if there’s truly these benefits to sleep that we are promoting to fourth formers, it would be beneficial for everybody.” Jennings explained the new policy from a sleep health aspect which I have seen as a large benefit to myself because I am now waking up feeling more energetic. 

                Many students, however, rightfully have an opposing opinion. “I feel like it’s unnecessary because I miss a lot of time getting ready for school because I didn’t have an alarm and we now have to spend money on alarms when we could simply just use our phones,’’ Tom Cepkauskas ’28 said.  

This is a very unique perspective, and I didn’t really think about that aspect of the issue. It is a little frustrating to have to get an alarm when we already have them built into our phones. 

Despite my own experience, however, the new phone rule is for many students just another set of expectations that disrupts their daily rhythms. Returning 4th form student Thayer Mcleod ‘28 stated, “I understand why they would do it, but honestly, I think I sleep better with my phone. Which I know is bad, but I do.“ For some people this is the case and the new phone rule would be very frustrating as it messes up their general habits.