When the Personal Communication Device (PCD) ban went into effect on campus this year, students quickly realized how much they relied on their laptops and phones to stay on top of their assignments during the school day. Now without those tools, many say they are struggling to finish their homework on campus, leading to late nights at home and less time for activities.
“It definitely saved me a bunch of time,” senior Max Raymond said. “I got a lot of work done in school, which gave me more time for golf and my job after school.”
Other students agree that losing the ability to use their own devices has taken away a valuable block of productivity.
“Getting my work done during school gave me time for cross country, church activities, my job, and hanging out with my friends,” senior Will Burningham said.
With personal devices off the table, the library has become a natural alternative. Librarian Jessica Castille said she has already seen more students coming in during the mornings and throughout the day.
“Before the PCD ban, we would have about 100 students during flex hour and nearly 1,000 students a month,” Castille said. “Now, we’ve already seen an increase in students using the desktops, printing and checking out books. If Flex Hour returns, I expect those numbers to double.”
However, while students are making the shift, they say the technology isn’t always keeping up. Burningham said that using the current desktops at the library can be a frustrating experience.
“The computers are really slow,” Burningham said. “Even if you want to get work done, it takes way too long.”
Castille acknowledged that some of the library desktops are outdated and won’t support Windows 11 in the future, but she said improvements are already being planned.
“We do have another set of Chromebook carts being added to the library,” Castille said. “The Chromebooks will give students more options for reliable devices, and we’re doing the best we can with what we have.”
Raymond said he would like to see Humble ISD offer personal laptops to students, similar to what other districts provide.
“One of my friends in Cy-Fair ISD gets a personal computer from his district to bring home and use at school,” Raymond said. “I think that would make it easier for us to stay on top of our work here too.”
For students, the change is about more than just convenience — it’s about flexibility. As sports, jobs, and after school commitments fill students’ schedules, many are hoping that better access to technology during the day will help them reclaim the balance they lost when the PCD ban began.
“Working in school was really important for me as I don’t have much time after school due to my job and other activities,” Raymond said.
