A new phone policy is in place for the FWCD class of 2028. The policy was created by the Head of School, Eric Lombardi, and its objective is to promote socialization for freshmen.
“I think it is obvious that they’re not on their phones, but when I look particularly at the lunch room, the part that has always made me uncomfortable is [when] everyone is on their phone and no one is interacting,” Lombardi said. “So noticing the freshman table not having that at all is a very sharp contrast; what I really notice is the difference between the senior and freshman tables.”
One big question from the current freshmen is: will this policy affect them as sophomores?
“I don’t know yet but it could,” Lombardi said “One thing I would hope is you all as students might find a way out for students that may not want to be spending time on their phone, so I hope that freshmen might even find parts of it that are good even though some people might feel like they’re being punished. I view it as we are trying to prevent you all from getting into a bad habit.”
Lombardi also noted that the policy will probably be in place for the class of 2029 as well.
“Yes, as of right now I think that when a policy is implemented that we should sit back and watch it. I think the class of 2028 is being great about it, so if it continues to have a positive impact then we will have the decision for the class of 2028 as sophomores and the class of 2029 as freshmen,” Lombardi said“The goal for this new policy is to at least delay our ninth graders from becoming constant cell-phone-scrollers in their free time.”
Students are allowed to be on their phones during class if teachers allow it. One of the main objectives for this is for students to not be distracted and to build good work habits. If a ninth grader is caught with their phone out, then they will receive an infraction. Once they receive three infractions, they will get detention.
Fort Worth Country Day is not the only school that is implementing this policy.
“At least eight states, including California, Indiana and Louisiana, have restricted phone use or taken steps toward doing so,” according to a September 6, 2024 article in the New York Times.
Students have mixed opinions on this topic. Max Kuperman ’28 is seeing some benefits from the phone restrictions.
“I feel good about the policy because I don’t need my phone,” Max Kuperman ’28 said. “I study, do Membean, and homework during my free period.”
But other students are not so positive.
“I hate the policy,” Aidan Fuller ’28 said. “I was looking forward to being on my phone, and all these years, people were telling me that I can have my phone in high school, but no. First year of high school and I can’t use my phone.”
