Should devices be allowed on cww?

Sofia 

CWW. In the past, these fun overnight or day-trip adventures have been emphasized as the peaks of the school year by many, promoting team building, learning outside of a classroom, and having fun. Despite CWW and school overall being cancelled because of COVID, we can all still look back and remember the good times. However, the “No-Devices in CWW” policy has been a strict rule every year,  but why? If having a device on hand could help with homesickness and safety reasons, then why must the school ban them? Well, in short, ISM simply mustn't ban devices from CWW trips.

One reason ISM shouldn’t ban devices from CWW is safety. Even with the new, improved, and helpful technology of our generation, who wouldn’t feel anxious about letting their child go to CWW? Even if the school ensures that students will definitely be protected, safe, and healthy, why shouldn’t there just be one more guarantee? After all, if a student experiences some sort of problem isn’t it important for them to be able to contact their parents?

Another reason ISM shouldn’t ban devices from CWW is can be a life lesson. At the same time, our devices like smartphones and iPads may be easy to lose, but they could also teach responsibility. A piece of technology that is very valuable, and automatically elevates one’s awareness of it. It Letting students bring devices could teach students to care more about their belongings and the responsibility that goes with it. 

Some may say that allowing students to bring their devices on CWW would result in students not talking to each other. On the contrary!  CWW already is already too fun for students to ignore what’s going on around them by scrolling through social media the whole time. Personally, I wouldn’t disregard the hard work that was put into planning and actually making sure that we have fun by being on my phone the whole time, and I’m sure that many other students would agree.

“In a world where it feels like we are communicating 24/7 as is, I feel like taking a "break" to unplug during these times helps us to build a more present and happy community in middle school.” Although I understand that taking a break from technology is needed, I still support allowing devices to make CWW feel safer, and more comfortable for everyone. 

Jiwon

There is one event that every middle school student awaits for each and every year of their middle school life. Yes, we all know what that event is. CWW! Despite the fact that it was cancelled this year due to the coronavirus, we all know that CWW is the highlight of each of our middle school years, letting us make unforgettable memories with our peers and teachers. 

Although CWW is a trip for us to learn in an enjoyable way, there still are several rules that students should keep during the trip, such as following the teachers’ instructions and not wandering off by yourself on the CWW site. Among those rules, there is one rule in particular that a lot of students despise: the “No Devices Allowed on the Trip” rule. I know that we all want to take our phones and other devices on the trip, but this rule shouldn’t be changed. Devices should never be allowed on CWW.

Most of the portable devices that we carry around with us are small. Phones and smart watches usually fit inside our pockets, and an ipad is no longer than the length of both of our hands combined. Other than being small, all these devices have one thing in common: they are easy to lose. If a student loses his or her device during the trip, who is going to be responsible for it? The student, since it was their device that got lost? Or the school, who let the students bring their devices on the trip? 

Adding to that, devices also can make the whole point of CWW meaningless. CWW is a trip meant for us to interact, collaborate, and get to know our peers. By letting students bring their devices on CWW, students would interact less and less with each other, and naturally spend more time on their phones. With this happening, there would be no point of us going on CWW, since CWW would just be a time where we can spend time on our devices freely without parental interruption.

Despite all this, the majority of students still want to bring devices on their CWW trip. However, the students aren’t considering the fact that the cons of bringing the devices to the trip outweigh the pros. To make CWW an enjoyable and educational trip, students should support our school’s current choice of not letting students bring their devices on CWW.