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For most students, it is almost impossible to go an entire day without witnessing someone tinkering around with their phone, using it to call or text somebody, or most recently, surf the Web.
So where do cell phones fit in at school? While several students believe they should not be able to take them out anytime they want, such as during a test or while a teacher is lecturing, they also believe that it seems out of line to ban cell phones on school grounds altogether.
Currently the policy on cell phones at Pacific High School allows them to be used in the cafeteria only before school and during lunch.
Any other time or place during school hours is considered inappropriate for students to use their cell phones. After the last bell of the day rings, using cell phones becomes fair game.
This policy is significantly changed from last year's rules, which allowed cell phones to be used anywhere, including the hallways, cafeteria or bathrooms, before the bell rang at 7:25 a.m. to signal the start of the day's classes,
The old rules also prohibited cell phones being used during lunch in the cafeteria.
Tom Sauvage, principal of PHS, offered an explanation for the rule changes.
"We tried to make it simple," he said. "Students' social time is in the cafeteria, and that's where teachers use their phones as well, so it made sense to only allow phone use in the cafeteria.
"Lunch is a great time (for students and parents) to touch base during the day. They (cell phones) are a part of who we are. They have a purpose in our lives," Sauvage added.
Many students, teachers and staff at PHS are split on whether they prefer this year's policy better over last year's or whether the school should implement a whole new policy altogether. Where should Pacific High draw the line? What is the happy medium, a good compromise for this dilemma?
The majority of students seem to have at least one complaint, and sometimes more, about the new policy for cell phones.
"The (new) rules are more strict," said Djuan Smith, junior. "For example (staff) can go through your phone now if you're caught using it when you're not supposed to, which can get people who you may be texting in trouble as well."
Alisha Teneyuca, junior, agrees with Smith.
"I don't think they should be able to go through people's phones if they get in trouble with them," she said. "It's ludicrous. They should just confiscate them or have the parents come pick them up."
Teneyuca also said she thinks that the rules are too strict.
"There's no point in not allowing cell phone use before school," she said. "It's not like it's (being used) during class."
Junior Hayley Nickerson also dislikes the rule about not using the cell phones before school.
"I don't think it's fair that we can't use them in the morning outside of the cafeteria because that seems to be what gets most people in trouble," she said.
Although the call for leniency is quite common, the consensus is that being able to use cell phones during class is unacceptable.
"There's no point," said Nickerson, "and it causes cheating."
"School's a professional setting," says Nancy Pfeiffer, a marketing teacher and DECA adviser at Pacific. "It's like a workplace and, as such, phones shouldn't be allowed (during class)."
Being able to use their phones during lunch seems to be a big hit with students.
"It's a cool thing that we can use them during lunch," said Nickerson.
"I like the fact that you can use it during lunch," Smith added.
Teneyuca agreed on that point as well, but added, "They (school officials) should lighten up and put a smile on."
