Following a strict routine, you wake up, still slightly groggy and dazed from your slumber. The first thing you do is pick up your phone and scroll through various social media apps. But why is the human mind so prone to drawing attention to cellular devices?
Dopamine, commonly known as the “feel-good hormone,” is a chemical messenger in the brain that acts as a stimulant for all things happy. Prior to the development of phones and related devices, the release of dopamine was often traced back to learning new skills. According to the National Institutes of Health, phones have now replaced the source of dopamine, claiming they offer “an alternative route to the dopamine rush by providing us with a constant, easily accessible source of information.”
English teacher Christine Day stated how the multimillionaires behind social media apps have “created the algorithms” for a demographic of young, susceptible individuals, which in turn constructs social media “to be addictive.”
As of July 31st, 2025, the Massachusetts Senate announced an official document regarding the usage of phones in Massachusetts schools. According to the Senate, the bill “aims to boost focus, improve mental health, and foster healthier learning environments.”
Senate President Karen E. Spilka acknowledged the time and effort gone into making the school environment as efficient and supportive as possible. In May, Spilka proposed that the Senate take immediate action because many found the handheld devices to be a major distraction in school environments.
“Massachusetts has a proud history of supporting and uplifting K-12 public education for our residents, but a device small enough to fit in a pocket presents a profound challenge to ensuring student success,” stated Spilka. This concept was further explained by Senator Michael J. Rodrigues, who highlighted key aspects of student engagement, proficiency, relationship-building, and the reduction of cyberbullying.
Although the usage of cellphones in class carries negative connotations, Chemistry teacher Martin Berryman observed: “The phone is a link to AI, which I see as being the future in a lot of things, and they should learn how to use AI appropriately, and they should learn how to use the phones appropriately.”
How will Malden take action?
Only having passed quite recently, the bill’s full range of power is still unknown, and all known information continues to change until September 2026, which marks the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year. The public’s full understanding of the bill is also quite limited, as nothing is set in stone and should be taken with a grain of salt.
The bill remains in draft until the Massachusetts House of Representatives considers it and drafts its own proposal. After this step, both drafts from the Senate and House were reconciled to be signed off by Governor Maura Healey. However, it can be assumed that Massachusetts will take heavy inspiration from other states that have already enacted legislation.
For example, California has already devised a plan to implement Yondr pouches in the upcoming school year. Yondr pouches serve as a storage pouch to store phones inside, and then, sealed with magnets, costing 30 dollars per student. Yondr’s first appearance dates back to 2019, when San Lorenzo High School in California first began using the newfound technology.
Even from the nearby local districts of Massachusetts, southeast of Malden, in the city of Chelsea, Yondr pouches have been implemented as of the 2025-2026 school year. Chelsea is a clear reminder of how it is only a matter of time before Malden High School is affected.
In response to the new rule, sophomore Aubrielle Fleuraguste of Chelsea High School reacted quite negatively, claiming the school “reacted pretty insensitively, and ignored our requests.” Fleuraguste added how concerns were raised, especially with how “Chelsea High School has always been unsafe, especially with the amount of emergencies that happen every year.” These emergencies are included but not limited to fights, false fire alarms, and intruder reports.
Although the official press statement from the Senate states that the full scope of the bill will only prohibit cell phones. Bill S.2561 Section 40, an act to improve students’ mental health, nullifies all cell phones and other personal electronics within school grounds. As to what “personal electronic devices” means, it is immediately clarified as “including, but not limited to, mobile phones, tablets, laptops, smartwatches, and Bluetooth-enabled devices.”
This brings the question: to what extent should students’ electronics be allowed?
The bill states that certain students can be exempted if they are provided specific accommodations. This includes one-time emergencies, multilingual learners, IEPs, specialized education plans, and medical prescriptions.
Following the ban on phones, some parental concerns have been raised about being able to contact their kids in case of an emergency. Berryman expressed his concerns in the event of an urgent situation.
Despite this, English teacher Jennifer Clapp suggested that parents can always contact their students through the school-admitted telephones, email, and parent-teacher apps, such as ParentSquare.
Day emphasized how “it would be good if teachers were consistent,” with Berryman adding how “teachers shouldn’t have to enforce it themselves.”
Clapp mentioned how increased technology use has caused a noticeable uprise in “withdrawal from human interaction.” As a result, she transitioned back into the usage of paper, where she noticed the “little silent typing” turned into an increase of “collaboration” and an “increase in competition.” Clapp continued that an increase in the community overall leads to better record-keeping.
On the other hand, some students have expressed a liking for the bill. Junior Anthony Kazachenko showed content, describing how it “mostly acts as a distraction” and is “annoying to be trying to do work,” while peers are engaged in their screens. Kazachenko further elaborated how “it’s good, but for certain days it is a bit excessive,” such as Get Ahead days, generally any day with a prolonged period of free time. Contrary to Kazachenko, many other students have expressed their discontent with the bill, describing it as ineffective and unnecessary.
In summary, the act should be approached with caution, with there being no definite guarantee. Superintendent Dr. Timothy Sippel explained how “if necessary, [the school committee] adjusts their local policies so that we’re in compliance with the law. So that means there could be a chance that the committee doesn’t do anything at all.”
With that said, Sippel concluded: “We ourselves are more dependent on these devices than we would like to admit. We just need to be reflective of our own use of technology and make sure that we’re being attentive to the people in our lives and the things in our lives that matter most.”
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