As this year ends with final exams and final moments of certain leniencies, new restrictions and expectations are already made for the upcoming school year. According to updated policies, students may no longer carry through school days using their own devices. 

“I feel like the only people who vouch for the new policy are heads of the district,” junior, Noor Hassan said. “Not even the teachers, they don’t even like the new policy.”

Though students enjoy the use of personal computers and/or iPads, new plans to keep the school district a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) free zone restricts usage of any individual technology. 

“I hate it because it’s not logical,” Hassan said. “I mean I understand that they don’t want students to be distracted or anything in their classes. But they shouldn’t ban [personal computers]. I spent so much money buying my personal laptop. I don’t want to waste that money and use my school laptop.”

In addition, students find preference in the comforts of using their own devices over the issuing of school devices. 

“In class, we have a lot of free time,” Hassan said. “It’s nicer to have my own personal laptop in school because the school laptop basically has everything blocked except for Google Docs, Google Slides, and Canvas.” 

Despite the lack of enthusiasm given by many students on school-invested accommodations, there are advantages and views that provide optimistic ideas to the new limitations. 

“I guess you stay on track and you’re not distracted,” Hassan said. “You can’t access Instagram or YouTube and you can’t look at your personal photos.”

Furthermore as stated, there are times when students cannot access the work their teachers assign. This creates frustration for both students and teachers.

“It’s also educational videos that are blocked on YouTube,” senior, Reel Elsadig said. “I realized that teachers also don’t like it because of how many things are blocked.”

Often, teachers attach links to YouTube videos for students to access. However, sometimes the videos are blocked on school devices and aren’t able to be viewed.

“[Teachers] will assign something on Canvas and put a YouTube link not knowing that it’s blocked on our end,” Elsadig said. “They then get really frustrated when they’re having to redo their lesson plan just because it’s not there.”

With these views on the new policies, district officials and the new principal should consider what exactly they are implementing into the new school year. With many students and teachers dissuaded by the actions for the up and coming school year, banning BYOD isn’t looked at positively.