CCHS Teachers Disclose Mixed Feelings for The Future of Cell Phone Usage in School

By Alexander Rennick, CCHS Senior 

February 25, 2025

Local schools, like Bethlehem Central High School, have reported positive results from adopting Yondr Pouches as a means of restricting cellphone use in school. The academic success of BCHS has led twelve other schools from the capital district to confirm that they will be adopting them for the start of the 25/26 school year. South Colonie has not announced if Yondr Pouches will be available for the following school year.

A small group of teachers have revealed their personal opinions regarding cell phones and the potential adoption of Yondr Pouches for CCHS. Their responses didn’t share much commonality with both arguments for either side being made. A total cell phone restriction in school may not be agreed upon by all teachers. 

High school health teacher Robert Stranahan disclosed his insight on cell phone usage in school. He claimed not to support total restrictions of phones in class as they serve as a tool for students as they develop throughout high school.

“The biggest benefit of using cell phones in school is teaching people how to use cell phones,” said Stranahan. 

He claimed that developing knowledge of phones in school may help once students graduate and move forward.

Not every teacher would agree with Stranahan’s claim however. Cisco and cybersecurity teacher Thomas Casey seems to strongly suggest our school needs a cell phone ban.

“It’s an absolute distraction to the educational process from the start of school to the end of school everyday” said Casey. 

His passionate resentment conflicts entirely with the opinions of Stranahan revealing the complexity and polarization on the topic itself. 

Casey even went further to point out that “It alienates students from having interactive human contact with each other.”

High school history teacher Robert Shafer gave his insight regarding the topic. While he remained neutral he did provide a case to support either side.

“I have tried to let students maintain control of their own phones in class but that does not work,” said Shafer on his results from allowing students to use their phones in class.

“Being able to use Google Translate is really helpful for them,” Shafer added on the topic of foreign students that may benefit from using their phone in class as a tool.

Both perspectives demonstrate that with a phone ban there will be problems that need solving however without a ban there would still be problems present. So there isn’t a straightforward solution to this problem. 

Teachers may not always be viewed highly among students yet some do care for the future of our students and school. Their insight may be useful for helping to find a current solution that can benefit all students in the building for the remainder of the school year.