Imagine a world where classrooms buzz with new ideas rather than notifications of the latest piece of online gossip. Students' eyes light up when they get a question correct rather than when their screens glow into their absorbed faces. Conversations flow freely without the interruptions of urges to grab your phone and mindlessly scroll.

The passing of notes was physical, rather than being passed through Snapchat. With the constant pull of screens and the overwhelming vastness of digital distraction, the question becomes impossible to ignore: should phones in schools be banned?

In a world where our devices feel like an extension of our bodies, banning phones might sound as outdated as chalkboards. But maybe the very thing we believe we can't live without is the one thing we need to let go of, at least during math class.

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Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying phones are all bad. We are clicks away from infinite knowledge. You don't understand something?

Search it up in seconds. Your best friend hasn't turned up to class? Quickly drop them a message. However, this doesn't take away the fact that it is a disruption from learning. In order to actually learn and deeply understand something, you need to be fully immersed in the classroom. Focusing on each word your teacher says, and completing all the homework on time without constant notifications and irrelevant social media updates. Over time, these distractions become uncontrollable and addictive, leading to poorer academic performance and an inability to focus.

Schools are now battlegrounds where students' attention is caught in a tug-of-war between textbooks and TikToks. Snapchat streaks outlast attention spans. Group chats buzz through lessons on Shakespeare. Phones have turned the classroom into a place where education competes with entertainment, when it shouldn't compete with anything.

Yes, phones can undoubtedly help you learn if used correctly. Their unlimited access to educational sites filled with incredibly helpful resources is needed to achieve top marks. Whether it's watching an informative video explaining a challenging concept, accessing past papers, or joining online forums to discuss academic challenges, the potential for enhancing learning is immense.

However, that doesn't mean that they are essential during school hours. Use your teacher's thoughtfully prepared resources in school and then complement them by using online resources at home. If these methods are balanced correctly, not only are you immersing yourself in an interactive and focused learning environment during school, but you are expanding your learning by using technology as a supporting tool afterward.

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Even when we are not thinking academically, phones disrupt the natural order of life. Teenagers today are more connected than ever but are really lonelier. Social media replaces meaningful friendships with a facade that whoever you follow and who follows you back is your friend, no matter if you have ever actually spoken to them. A school without phones encourages meaningful face-to-face interactions that can actually turn into lifelong friendships.

Without phones, group work turns into meaningful opportunities for joint learning, teamwork, and communication. Breaks and lunchtimes become a chance for laughter, connection, and creating meaningful friendships, rather than scrolling through a feed on your own that you won't remember when you go back to class. Face-to-face interactions where you forget that you even own a phone, teach essential life-long skills that phones could never replace, such as empathy, collaboration, and communication.

With rising rates of anxiety and depression in teens, we can't help but turn to phones as a catalyst for this. Our phones are a domain for constant comparisons and cyberbullying. They fuel struggles of insecurity and inadequacy, creating an undeniable mental health crisis among teens.

Schools should be a safe haven where students can escape the pressures of being online and focus on their future and personal growth. But if phones are present in class, how can teens ever escape the toxicity of the online world? With the ban of phones, schools can become an environment free from toxic comparisons and online, pointless drama. Students can focus on building their confidence and developing their identities and minds, without the constant pressure to equate to unrealistic standards in the online world.

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As much as we hate to admit it, multitasking is impossible. It is a myth. We can't read and understand material while scrolling on TikTok or playing a YouTube video in the background.

Students must prioritise their work and set boundaries around phone use to fully give their education their all and prepare them for workplaces where focus and discipline are vital skills. You go to school to learn. Studying is the priority so you must be in the habit of giving it your most, sustained attention.

I know people may critique the phone ban, calling it an unnecessary restriction. However, in the long run, students will thank this rule. Banning phones in schools isn't about teachers being harsh and taking something away, it is about giving students the space to learn, grow, and connect in ways you could never achieve by being glued to a screen.

It is time to redefine what a classroom should be. A place of learning the value of focus, the meaningfulness of in-person connections, and the beauty of living in the moment, in the real world.

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Ultimately, education isn't about learning facts or solving equations, it's about preparing for the real world where they have to focus, connect, and engage with the world around them. And sometimes, the greatest lesson is how to put your phone down and be fully present.