We are writing this as students who value and our freedom because BVSDs newly announced policy plans to ban cell phones and all personal technology during the entire school day in all Boulder Valley schools. This very recently adopted decision will lead to the complete withdrawal of a students access to their phones and earbuds during school hours, without exception. If we do not take action now, this policy will be in effect and our phones will be confiscated for all 8 hours that we are at school.

While we agree that students be focused on education during class time, prohibiting phone usage even during lunch breaks and passing periods is unnecessary, overly restrictive, and out of touch with the needs of modern students.

Mobile devices have become integral to our daily lives. Away from the classroom, we apply them for communicating with parents or friends, for planning school work and activities, or simply to relax by listening to music. A complete technological blackout feels more like an infringement on our rights than a meaningful step toward improving education. For adolescents, who are at early stage learning personal independence, this policy makes it harder to achieve that independence.

We urgently ask BVSD to reconsider this ban. If this petition is unsuccessful,  this restrictive policy will be implemented at its fullest, starting in January. Rather than banning things completely, we should be able to use our devices in passing periods, lunch and just any time that we are not in a class. The objective is to help us, the digitally fluent adults of the future, prepare to use technology positively and purposefully in our lives.

Please join us in opposing this policy. Protect our freedom of independence by signing this petition to stop the ban now.