Will card games make a comeback as high schools ban cellphones next year?
Design by Sid Shetty and Scarlet Baumann.
Scarlet Baumann, Sports Editor, Sidhanth Shetty, Staff Writer
On Tuesday, May 5, Gov. Brian Kemp signed a bill banning Georgia high school students from using personal electronic devices during school hours. This law has already been put in place for students in grades K-8, and for high schoolers, it will begin next school year.
Students at Northview have had to find ways to keep themselves busy when they have free time. Sophomore Aditya Ahuja has found that playing cards can be a good way to pass time with friends rather than looking down at a phone.It helps students connect with one another through both teaching and learning, sharing laughs when a game becomes too "serious" and creating opportunities to make new friends.
"I enjoy playing cards because it allows me to have a social connection with friends without the use of technology. And while being able to do that, it helps you engage with new people and play fun games along the way, " Ahuja said.
With games including Poker and Egyptian Rat Slap (ERS), students at Northview have grown a liking for the standard deck of cards. It's clear that students love playing card games, but they aren't the only ones playing. Outside of school, teachers find enjoyment in spending some of their free time playing cards as well. Social studies teacher Mark is a strong believer in this.
"These are really beautiful games because they are a mixture of skill and luck," Anderson said.
Anderson views cards as a way to connect with others, and thinks they are a great way to relax and have fun. However, while Anderson believes that they can be another avenue to create friendships, he doesn't see them being the future of entertainment for kids at school. But this isn't exactly the case.
Sophomore Pallavi Siddhanti feels differently about this issue.
"I feel like at the end of classes, when we don't have many things to do, instead of going on their phones or listening to music, people can play cards," Siddhanti said. She sees them as a great way to interact with others now that the phone ban is coming. She sees them as a way to fill up free time at school during lunch as well.
Many students have their own decks and actively play cards, or have even played in the past. The truth is, students are playing cards in plain sight, from kids in Boy Scouts playing ERS around the campfire to friends meeting in the summer to play poker and eat snacks . Kids have used phones their whole lives, and if they lose access to them, they will very likely look for new ways to fill their time at school.
The future of what students will do to pass the time in school isn't a clear answer, but a solution for some will be card games. Whether the games are luck-based like bluff and blackjack or skill-based like poker and ERS, one thing is certain: cards could shape the future of entertainment for students.
