Over the summer, Upper School students and families received groundbreaking news: the new cell phone policy requires students to turn in their phones from the beginning of the school day until their final class is dismissed. For many teenagers, the prospect of not having one’s phone from 8:00 AM to 3:10 PM is disastrous. However, students have been coping in an unexpected, albeit traditional, way.
A couple of Upper School students have traded their phones for books, and the number only seems to be increasing. Whether reading between classes, in the commons during free block, or while eating lunch, Upper School students are turning over a new page. From The Castle by Franz Kafka to East of Eden by John Steinbeck to Dune by Frank Herbert, most of these texts lie outside the Upper School English curriculum.
Why should you read?
There are many benefits to reading. In an online world dominated by short form media and 10 second soundbites, taking the time to read a book can increase attention spans and concentration. While hitting the gym is good for you physically, flipping pages is exercise for your brain. For any sophomores or juniors focused on standardized testing, reading greatly augments your vocabulary (especially if you read a thesaurus). While the alternative to phones are usually computers, reading helps you get off screens completely, reducing blue light exposure and providing a much needed break from the fast-paced online world. Students already rely on their computers for class, so unplug and engage your mind with a good book.
This increase of bibliophiles at Newman fits in with larger trends, most closely the trend of “going analog.” Going analog in 2026 means attempting to live in a less digital-centric world. While the internet used to be an escape from real life, now real life is an escape from the internet. With the increasing prevalence of misinformation, AI-generated images, and unrealistic standards, embracing physical media and focusing on real life is one of 2026’s biggest wellness trends. A large part of the going analog trend has been prioritizing reading physical books over eBooks or audiobooks. Who knew the phone policy would turn out to be trendy?
How to read more.
Not sure where to start? Sign up for (or renew) a New Orleans Public Library Card. Find a good reading playlist, whether your vibe is Beethoven or Lana del Ray. Join Book Club and read alongside like-minded individuals. Start with short stories that are easier to get through (and then work your way up to War and Peace). Find your new favorite genre. Are you a true crime fan? Try a murder mystery. Is People We Meet on Vacation your new Netflix addiction? Pick up a romance novel, Emily Henry-style. Or are you more interested in developing the next big AI chat-bot? Science fiction is probably more your speed. For anyone who is looking to read more in 2026, I’d personally recommend picking up a classic. You can’t go wrong with books that have stood the test of time!
