At the beginning of the school year, I learned something surprising: over the summer, the Massachusetts Senate passed a bill that would ban cell phones in schools statewide. (The House has yet to pass it.)
In Belmont, we already have a policy that requires phones to be placed in a “phone hotel” every time students enter a classroom. Under the Senate bill, this policy would become law, where each school district could figure out the best way to turn its schools into cell phone-free zones.
I understand that phones can be distracting, but I also don’t like the idea of being told when and where I can have mine, especially since phones could be lifesaving in an emergency. It made me wonder: Do students have any right to say “no” when school officials or other adults want to take that choice away?
We’ve always been told to respect rules set for us by adults. But as we grow older, we start to realize that respect doesn’t always mean blind obedience. We can follow rules that adults set for us, but we should also acknowledge that saying “no” to adults doesn’t always mean that it’s rude. Sometimes it means that we are using our rights, protecting our privacy, and keeping ourselves safe, including having a say in things that affect us.
For example, I believe that students should have the right to privacy over personal belongings, like our phones, unless a teacher or a school staff has a serious reason to look at your phone. This can also be applied to social media. You don’t need to give other adults access to your accounts or your passwords. Doing these things doesn’t make you a person who ignores the rules. It makes you a person who sets boundaries that other people should respect.
I realize that some of my beliefs might not be backed up by the law. After some research, I learned that students’ rights in school aren’t the same as adults’ rights outside of school. Courts have ruled that schools can limit phone use or search a student’s belongings if there’s reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing. Currently, the law gives schools a lot of power to make these decisions in the name of safety and discipline. This makes it even more important for students to speak up respectfully when policies affect us, because our voices help shape what “safe” and “fair” should mean.
Respect works two ways: adults need to listen as much as they lead over kids. And sometimes that means speaking up and sharing how some rules might impact us, in both good ways and bad.
To me, the idea of the total phone ban made me think that following the rules doesn’t always mean doing what’s right. I think the best way to exercise your right to say no is by using your voice to speak up, ask questions, and remind others that your voice matters too. After all, learning how to say no is one of the most important lessons we could ever learn in our lives, because our safety might depend on it.
So, to answer my original question: Yes, kids can say no to adults.
Christelle Moïse is a junior at Belmont High School with a passion for reading mysteries, ice skating, and listening to music. When she’s not focused on schoolwork or volunteering in her community, she channels her creativity into writing about teen mental health and pop culture. With a strong commitment to using her voice for good, Christelle strives to raise awareness of important issues and shed light on often overlooked perspectives.
