School pickup is often chaotic with parents scrambling to get their kids, and teachers rushing to get home. Using a phone may seem like the most efficient way to coordinate rides, but Carrollton has enforced a new policy this year that bans the use of phones during dismissal. The administration chose to ban phones after seeing too many students distracted. This became a safety issue during pickup.
“Safety-wise, [students on phones] could have a negative impact if they’re not paying attention,” said Upper School Engineering Teacher Ms. Cao.
“They could either, God forbid, get hit by a car, or they could trip down the stairs,” said Associate Dean of Students Mrs. Aguiar.
Ms. Cao also recognizes potential problems with phone use during pickup. “If the students pay too much attention to their phones, their parents could be waiting for them on the campus, and the pickup process would be slowed down,” she said.
“It’s about situational awareness,” she continued. If students are looking at their phones, they’re not looking at cars pulling in or paying attention to staff members directing them. “We want them to focus on getting to their ride safely.”
Despite these reasons, there was initially some frustration from parents. “We had a few parents tell us they liked being able to text their kid, ‘I’m here,’ and have them come right out,” Ms. Cao admitted.
“But once we explained that pickup moves faster when kids are paying attention, the parents were very supportive for the most part,” said Mrs. Aguair.
Still, many students continue to express problems with the ban.
Sofi Mendoza ‘29 wants her phone because if she “ever feel[s] unsafe or if something weird is happening at dismissal or school,” she can “call [her] parents right away,”
According to Mendoza, having a phone during pickup also helps eliminate stress and confusion. “There are so many moving parts during pickup. Parents can get stuck in traffic, plans can change, and sometimes you need to let someone know where you are,” she explained. “Without a phone, you’re kind of just standing there, hoping everything goes as planned.”
Ms. Aguair believes that a way to avoid these issues would be to “call the office” and confirm who’s taking you in the morning.
In the end, there may need to be a compromise. “Finding a balance might be key to ensuring a safer and quicker dismissal process,” said Ms. Cao.
