As a student, having my stuff with me is not just convenient, it's necessary. Recently, students have been stripped of their right to keep their belongings with them and use their phones at lunch or in the hallways.

Lunch is the only free time we get all day, and in those precious 30 minutes, students should have the freedom to choose how we use them, as long as it's safe. In Lee County, Florida, high school students are currently not permitted to bring their backpacks or phones to lunch or during hallway passing time. This rule ignores the realities of our modern, technology-driven world and overlooks the essential needs of students.

For many, lunch and hallway passing is a vital time to connect with family, especially parents since phones shouldn't be used in class. With phones banned, students are prevented from having even a brief moment of connection that might be crucial for updates or emergencies.

Moreover, some students use this time to catch up on assignments or study for upcoming tests, especially during midterms and finals. It will be even more of a necessity to have the freedom of bringing our stuff due to the new amnesty calendar deadlines. Additionally, students who need to carry feminine products to the bathroom are forced to do so without the privacy of a backpack, potentially leading to embarrassment and discomfort. 

At this time of peak technological development, it is important that we work with the rise of technology instead of against it. Phones are a reliable device that are needed or convenient to use for a lot of classes. In past years, in forensics we use our phones to take pictures of "evidence" for our labs and upload them to google classroom, for yearbook we use social media to market and contact people for pictures, we also use our phones to communicate and help each other during events that need to be covered throughout the school day, in many classes, we use the "scan" feature to upload our notes onto google classroom so both we can keep our notes while teachers stay updated on our learning process. This scan feature is only good enough quality when it's used on the phone. Also, during yearbook distribution days, bake sales, and other fundraising activities that happen during lunch, lots of people like to use apple pay so nothing happens to their money. In high school, teenagers and legal adults are preparing for the workforce. Businesses are increasingly becoming more cell phone and technology based so it's important that our schools teach self discipline and how and when to use it rather than resorting to control.

Schools should aim to integrate technology rather than restrict it. Phones and backpacks can be managed responsibly, and with appropriate guidelines in place, students can use them without disrupting the school environment. Banning phones all together is NOT a sustainable, long term solution.

Join me in urging the Lee County School District to update its policies and allow students to bring their backpacks and phones to lunch and using them during non-instructional times. Sign this petition to support a change that respects students' needs and aligns with the demands of a modern educational experience.