My School Bans, we need your opinion on the matter! They are banning things that can help Mental Health!!

In my school, not saying for safety of students, staff, and school helpers.

We have a new rule that we are not able to bring ESSAs or Emotional Support Stuffed Animals, many of the ones students bring being about the sides of a small pillow, so about 12inches in length, and like 6inches in height. But our main principal had BANNED them, all together. And we are also going to deep dive into this shit. All info is from Google and my school rules, also actual student’s opinions on the matter, all is written by Kaii A. Hughes. 

If you have any person experience with your school and they are not banned by state law please reach out to me at : sarah_hughes3@icloud.com

THE PHONE RULE (State Rule)

In my school we have actual rules now being pretty normal, but there is one since the start of my school year. Such as phones, being banned in OHIO to apparently “improve mental health” in school, and “stop bullying” but we can still bully outside of school and in school. And the mental health issues, we all struggle with mental health but school does in fact lower mental health from all the work we get, tests, and not enough help from teachers when you are clearly struggling with it. 

And it tries to “encourage face-to-face” communication. But we do already to that during school, and though a state rule it is kinda bullshit. Let me explain, so many students in the day and age of 2025, we know the world is shit, like all of us. And our home life is one of the things that can cause people to not want to talk to people, people having the fear of failing, losing friends, being bullied. And so on, but many people could not want to do that and/or feel uncomfortable with it.

Which can kinda cause Mental Health to go down and you might NEED your phone during school, wether it is for glucose, heart rate, or ANY other thing that you need for health SHOULD be allowed though the state law for student’s safety at school. Which i believe my school does allow that in our 504 lists, but i am not for sure since i only have one thing on there for going done to guidance whenever i need to.

Wireless Headphones (state rule)

Wireless headphones, they are useful less messy, can connect to about anything. But here is the thing, they are banned at my school, either if it is an accessory or they are needed for class. My school says “Any Cell Phone, Earbuds, or Headphones must be kept in locker” which for classes you many need them, it only said earbuds and headphones, which is any headwear that can make you hear anything on a device without disrupting others. 

Which we need them for classes, but by the rule i said in “” is saying NO HEADPHONES OF ANY SORT in general which can cause students who technically have headphones to not be able to use them during class time, which brings me back to the headphone van for the wireless headphones. They are as useful as normal headphones, but trusty google says that they can be used for cheating and apparently safety issues, which makes this a lot dumber with safety issues since many wireless headphones you can still hear stuff around you, and safety announcements, you will hear them since the PA system is loud and teachers are loud to get your attention.

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT STUFFED ANIMALS

ESSAs for short are any stuffed animal a person brings with them for comfort in schools or crowded places or a plush toy used as a companion and coping tool to provide comfort, reduce stress, and offer sense of security, helping individuals manage anxiety, grief, or any emotional challenges.

These can help people, mainly students but of course we need guidelines for these, but first here is what i will quote from my school newsletter and student opinions.

We have noticed stuffed animals have made their way to [SCHOOL NAME] this year. As bringing stuffed animals may have been acceptable in lower grade levels, [SCHOOL NAME] students must keep the stuffed animals at home. Please feel free to reach out to Mr. ______ if you have questions or concerns.

“I think that reasonable sized stuffed animals and ESSAs should not be banned” - Violet W (7th Grade)

“It’s for emotional support, why get rid of them” - Adella W (7th Grade)

“ i think ESSAs are important for the comfort of students and banning them will do nothing but harm. the ban is unnecessary as they did not take away from school activities.” - Chloe S (7th Grade)

Now that we have student opinions, we should look at what google says for this!

1 - Schools should generally allow emotional support stuffed animals as they offer significant comfort and stress reduction for children and teens.

2 - Schools should allow emotional support stuffed animals because they provide comfort, reduce anxiety, and offer emotional regulation for students, especially during stressful times and transitions

ESSA SUMMERY

In all of the ESSA Ban, the most important part of this is that we have student who have good mental health. And also the following reasons :

Comfort and Security, Stress and Anxiety Reduction, Emotional Regulation, and they Increase Prosocial Behavior.

FINAL STATEMENT 

Now what is your personal option on this? Should my school have it banned? Is it helpful for all people either if they are 4 years old to 60 years old? We need your opinion since this ban is not in any state law which means we can get this ban lifted since this mental health we are talking about.

Anyways, thank you if you read this to the end and gave your opinions about it. If you want to reach out on how to get your SCHOOL ONLY BANS lifted, i am always open to help you out. 

- Kaii A. Hughes