No More Sneaking Around

By Gabrielle Winebeger, Em Vee Hi News editor

With a brand new school year comes a new electronics policy that is not only allowing students to use their electronics without getting into any trouble, but is pleasing some of the administration here at school.

“I like the idea of teachers using electronics in the class room for instruction purposes,” Subschool 2 Principal Mark Sewell said.

To keep the temptation of pulling out a phone during class, Fairfax County Public schools has decided to change its electronics policy, so students are able to use their cell phone during their 30-minute lunch period and in class at the teacher’s discretion for instruction purposes only.

“The world we live in is based on technology, that is what the students live on, and for students to be able to use their electronics during the day relaxes them,” Subschool 1 Principal Patricia Dutchie said.

Last year students had to have their electronic devices out of sight at all times from 6 a.m to 2 p.m while on school grounds.

“I love the new policy. It makes things a lot easier, I can look up the definition of the word in English class when we are studying Othello or The Great Gatsby,” Savannah Lindsay said.

All day and every day, anyone could turn their head and see that someone was trying to sneak their phone or Ipod out in the middle of class, in the hall, and at lunch trying to check their Facebook status, their Twitter feed or looking up last minute answers to an assignment that is due in their next class.

“It is very tempting to pull out my phone during school because there are times when I need to check my text messages to make sure that if my plans change after school I am aware of it, and have time to get things straightened out,” junior Stephanie Gutierrez said.

Many of the students said they are excited for this new policy that is giving them a little bit more freedom this year than students had last year.

“This new policy is great. It gives us more of an opportunity to be free to use our phones and iPods during class and lunch without getting into trouble,” sophomore Jared Norton said.

With the new policy in full effect, there are bound to be some potential problems that will come along.

“Potential problems would be that students take advantage of the policy and use their cell phones in their class for other purposes,” freshman Allyson Wineberger said.

Regardless of the potential problems that could result from this new policy, students still enjoy their newfound freedom to use their electronic devices in the cafeteria and in the classroom.

“I love the new policy and I love being able to use my phone in school, I can openly text my family and talk to them if I need to without having to worry about getting into trouble,” senior Zykiah Potts said.  

Editor's Note: These articles are written by Mount Vernon High School student reporters for Em Vee Hi, the school newspaper. These articles are running on Mount Vernon Patch as part of a partnership between Mount Vernon Patch and the journalism class at MVHS.