Washington D.C.’s Close Up Foundation states that at least 35 states have implemented restrictions on student cell-phone usage as of 2025. It was only a matter of time before an email, like the one our town saw this past August, would reach our district.
The letter, from Dr. Lauren Zirpoli, Superintendent of Schools said: “I am writing to inform you of a revision to policy 5516- Use of Electronic Communication devices [. . .] Students in grades 9-12 must place all electronic communication devices in their lockers at the start of the day.”
[As a side note, according to the language of the policy, hilariously, “electronic communications devices” is an umbrella term that goes well beyond cellphones. It is specifically stated that such devices include “pagers/beepers, laptop computers, electronic readers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), two-way radios,” and my all time favorite: “portable fax machines.”]
As a student affected by this policy, I witnessed firsthand the initial distress of my peers. Personally, I can advocate for the benefits of the lack of cellphones during instruction (despite my elementary school essay arguing for the opposite), though myself and many others questioned the inclusion of lunch. Parents on Facebook rushed to voice their opinions, praising the new guidelines, and hoping their children would finally be saved from the grasp of their screens.
This argument is not new. Last year, I attended many of the “strategic forums” held by Dr. Zirpoli and the board designed to collect feedback on the district environment. In several meetings, specifically during the “technology integration” one, parents condemned the problem of cellphones in class. One mother mentioned how, when analyzing her child’s screen time, a significant number of hours were spent from the 7:44-2:48 hours on weekdays.
The school attempted various solutions to this hot problem. However, the consistent flaw was the lack of student participation. The majority of the voices backing these arguments were concerned parents and frustrated teachers. Students just didn’t see the problem the same.
The first assembly, held at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, addressed the problem with its own early policy. Administration warned each high school grade that cellphone usage during instruction could warrant two hour weekend detention. Leniency was over…or so they thought. A few weeks in and little changed. Teachers often allowed the use of phones on catch-up days, after instruction, or in study halls. Other teachers, like Tech and Design Process and Woodshop teacher Daniel Barletta still felt otherwise.
“I definitely noticed this as a very big problem,” Barletta began. “Last year I made a very big push to make sure phones weren’t used in my classroom.”
With the staff uncoordinated and results marginal, he took it into his own hands. Now with the students finally on board in a dramatic turn of events, every one of his students collectively agreed to his new “Saratoga” initiative.
An acronym for Silence, Attention, Respect, Academics, Turn it off, Out of sight, Get to work, and Achieve, the Saratoga message was designed to motivate students to put away their cellphones in a revolutionary turning point akin to the Battle of Saratoga in 1777, the battle that the American victory in the Revolutionary War can be attributed to. The Saratoga victory was proof that the war could be won, which led the French to formally agree to aid America, a crucial step towards victory. Soon, the acronym was carved into a wooden plaque and signed by all of Barletta’s students. That day in room 320 was proof that this could actually work. That students recognized the problem and were willing to aid in the solution.
But what really is the problem? That’s the first question at hand in justifying the Saratoga initiative and the 2025 updated policy.
According to Barletta, the temptation of one’s personal phone draws the student away from the instruction in class.
“If you were teaching and a student was underneath their desk texting, it was very distracting, not only to yourself but to other students. For me as a teacher, it’s easier to instruct without the distraction of the cellphone,” he said.
After the signing of the Saratoga plaque, real benefits were noticed in the classroom.
“I saw my classes get better,” Barletta claimed. “I saw students more attentive. I saw students engaging more. I saw students making an effort to try to do other things and try to stay motivated and focus on the lesson.”
That’s why Barletta and his 2024-2025 students were among those delighted on that August afternoon.
Barletta, who works at the New Providence pool over the summer, noted that “when the email came out,” students of his that were lifeguards “were excited.”
Not only were they thrilled to hear his Saratoga policy is now a District imperative,, but they recognized the problem and wanted to participate.
As Dr. Zirpoli’s email made clear, this time, there was no room for misinterpeting. Instead of a semi-formal advisory policy as seen in 2024, the revision to 5516 now reflects the statewide push to remove digital distractions from the classroom.
Instead of the honor code to trust that students would leave their cellphones in their backpacks, it was now required of NPHS students that they be placed in the locker at the beginning of the day. Instead of free-for-all at lunch, the phones stay in the locker, unless an upperclassman exits the premises for lunch.
The punishment for not following these rules? Two hour Saturday detention.
Barletta finds this to be totally necessary. Whereas last year his punishment was “a single warning and after the warning you have to come sit with me at a detention at 7:15 in the morning,” the new policy enabled him to officially write a student up for the first time.
The major difference from the old policy to the new one is standardization and streamlining.
“The teachers, the students, the administrators, the entire faculty and staff, and the student population [are] all in this together. We’re all not using phones, we all see that it is a problem, and we’re all trying to get better,” claimed Barletta.
Of course, for this to work there needs not only for an appropriate punishment to be in place, but for it to be followed faithfully by all staff.
This is most exemplified with the inclusion of lunch/professional period as a no-phone time. That, in itself, is concrete proof that the concern goes beyond the classroom. Mr Barletta agrees that its intention is improving social contact between students, a skill that many adults fear is fading before their eyes. From what I have seen as a student, the vast majority of opposition stems from lunch. That, to me, represents the disconnect between what students initially believed the phone policy was designed to do and how the staff/administration interpreted it.
At first, many of my peers responded to the email as if it were a malicious penalty. On the other hand, staff argues the policy is actually an opportunity for students and staff alike to come together and better themselves.
As Barletta put it, “I don’t see this as malicious in any way. I really think it’s, in every way, just caring for the students. Caring for the students and seeing how good it is for them to limit their phone time.”
He agrees with the the parents at the community forum that “the research at this point’s been done. And it’s pretty clear that phones are not good. And limiting screen time is something that’s really important not just for students but for staff and for everybody.”
“We wouldn’t be doing our job if we weren’t trying to make these students better,” he said.
If everybody is truly included in this solution, teachers should, in theory, also put down their phones. If the motive behind this policy is truly eliminating the virulent screens for all, isn’t the staff also affected? This, in my opinion, is not yet the standard because teachers and staff have an out if they choose one. Just as Barletta admitted to texting his wife during prep or before classes, the only thing really keeping the staff included is their own will. They can take cursory glances at their cellphones whenever they want, which students cannot do.
It has been nearly a month and half since school began. In my perspective, the student response and participation has greatly progressed. Especially with the board-games added to the cafeteria by the PTSA, social contact between students appears to be at an all time high. I walked through to purchase a snack last week, and saw at least four tables with a game in the center. During classes, rarely (if ever) have I seen a phone.
Barletta, from a teacher’s perspective, shares my opinion. “What I have seen in my classroom during the lunch periods, oh my gosh! The interaction is fantastic! Better than it’s ever been. It feels we’re going back in a way, but it’s the right direction. It’s changing for the better.”
Even for those who initially disobeyed, when written up they took “100% responsibility” and “apologized for being on their phone. They understand why it’s wrong. So, there hasn’t been any back and forth, and fighting, it seems like everyone understands that this is not just a school issue, but a life issue.”
Since those write-ups, early on in the school year, he claims he has not seen a phone once.
To the students who are either still struggling to follow the rule or cannot understand the values the school is trying to implement, Barletta gives this piece of advice: “ I would strongly encourage anybody who is struggling with it, to try and see that it is a good thing. We’re trying to make everyone better, including ourselves as a staff, and it’s a really good thing, so do your best to try and put it down.”
As the year continues, we encourage that you embrace this rule that, in all honesty, we cannot do anything about. Might as well find the light in it, and use these no-phone hours of the day to truly connect to the world. On the night of Wednesday, October 5th, (7:00-8:00 pm), a community discussion will be held in the cafeteria about Jonathan Haidt’s 2024 novel “The Anxious Generation;” promoted by Dr. Zirpoli as a “meaningful opportunity for parents and community members to engage with ideas Haidt presents about adolescent well-being and the impact of digital connectivity.” This will be in partnership with the “The Mindful Generation, [a] non-profit organization dedicated to promoting balance, connection, and growth for today’s children and future generations.” A second session, this time open for students to attend, will be held on December 3rd.
I plan to attend the December meeting as an open-minded skeptic. I will take notes on my takeaways and intend to follow up with a Providential article summarizing the key moments. Stay tuned.