Corrections Notice: This article features a correction. “Without their permission” was removed from the following sentence: “Among all of these features, the most controversial is the teacher’s ability to view students’ screens during class,” as students give their permission at the beginning of the year in the Responsible Use Policy.

     Your teacher walks around the classroom as it fills with the clicking of computer keys. You try to camouflage the sound of your typing, along with the other students. The teacher’s footsteps get closer, each one thumping louder than the last.

     Attempting to swiftly change the tabs, you catch a glimpse of the teacher’s cardigan and feel her breath on your neck … It’s too late. Accepting your fate, you look back, eyes locking with theirs.

     “Please get back to work.”   

     On March 5, 2026, Upper School teachers attended a meeting with the tech department, where they announced what would be a major change for many: the enforcement of Apple Classroom.

     Apple Classroom, previously used in the Middle School, is a free application that allows instructors to manage the activity of students’ school-issued MacBooks through its many features.

     “Teachers are able to guide students through a lesson, see their progress and help keep them on track. With a click of a button, teachers can remotely launch apps, open webpages, lock screens and share documents,” Educational Technology Support Specialist Christine Scoby said. 

     Among all of these features, the most controversial is the teacher’s ability to view students’ screens during class. With this new feature, the days of online shopping, furious gaming and watching sports during class have come to an end. This loss of freedom has created a division between teachers and students. 

     Teachers, who allow students to use their computers in class, have given positive feedback regarding Apple Classroom.

     “I appreciate Apple Classroom because it has helped me to better manage my classroom, where I need to be able to monitor students’ online focus without having to walk around the room and peep at students’ screens,” US English Teacher and 10th Grade Dean Heather Elouej said.

     Even teachers who rarely allow technology in their classrooms have also voiced their approval. In fact, many are willing to start incorporating more technology when using the app.

     “I like the idea of [the] push feature. If you’re in my class and I’m like, ‘Hey, there’s this cool website,’ I could push it to your computer and you [wouldn’t] even have to worry about searching for it. There actually are some digital labs that I’m going to try,” US Science Teacher Dr. Carlie Saval said. 

     On the other hand, students feel as if they’re being spied on and that the new features are unfair.

     “It feels a little untrusting,” sophomore Dash Johnson said. “If we’re getting our work done, we’re paying attention [and] we understand [the] concept, we should have the freedom to be able to [play games].”

     Despite these differences of opinion, Apple Classroom is here to stay. And while teachers still acknowledge students’ opinions, they also encourage them to see the bigger picture.

     “It’s not a matter of spying on people — which it kind of feels like at first — but I mean, it’s really just to make sure that students are on task,” Saval said.