I am a proud product of Plano Independent School District. I've witnessed first-hand, the effects of the drastic cellphone ban implemented in our PISD School's. I understood the middle school ban due to our maturity however I’ve also seen the stark contrast between the ban before and after in the same school. In the last 2 years, It is difficult to see countless socially isolated kids, bent over their Chromebooks all day, unable to socialize. I may self clearly recall being able to bond and make connections over funny videos and games during lunch. After the ban I often barely talked with my friends as we simply went on to the next class.

Other PISD high schools such as Shepton and Clark are given full access to the old device policy. It seems as though this ban has inadvertently created barriers, rather than foster focus and balanced interaction. At a point in our lives the cell phone ban seemed understandable but as our maturity level has increased from the grades prior we believe as high schoolers we should be given the option to use our own personal cellular devices.

Before the restricted use of cellphones was prohibited, they were a social link, connecting students during lunch and hallway breaks. Known fact is i’ve witnessed more fights and much more apparent cheating over the last 2 years and therefore calls for re-evaluating such stringent measures at Jasper High School where cellphone use could be monitored and not entirely barred. 

Let's renegotiate the cellphone policy and adopt middle ground, permitting phone use during non-instructional hours (such as lunch, hallways, and when permitted in class) Let us help our children thrive, improve test scores whilst balancing social connections and technological resources - not forcing them to choose one. Please sign this petition and support a return to the former, more balanced cellphone policy at Jasper High School.