PHOENIX — Gen Z is making its way into the workforce — and into the classroom as young teachers.
One of them is Sukhjeet Singh, a 25-year-old teacher at ASU Preparatory Academy.
He said being a part of Gen Z comes with advantages, like the perspective needed to understand the pros and cons of cellphones in the classroom.
Gen Z teacher shares opinion on Arizona classroom cellphone bans
Singh told KTAR News 92.3 FM that requiring students to put their phones away at the beginning of classes encourages them to be self-reliant and focused.
“It has really improved just the way these students are able to depend on themselves,” Singh said.
Earlier this year, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a bill into law that requires some form of cellphone and internet restriction in schools.
Following her legislative action, many schools across the state have put in place cellphone policies similar to ASU Prep’s.
“Establishing that routine for them, without the interruption of social media, and without the interruption of all of these outside factors, has really improved and helped them become these young adults that we want them to be as they kind of grow and progress into high school and college,” Singh said.
What other advantages do Gen Z teachers have?
Singh started working in the classroom through Teach for America, a nonprofit that places recent college graduates in under-resourced schools.
Since starting his educational journey, he said he’s found multiple advantages of teaching students as a Gen Z teacher.
For instance, he said he relates to children in a way that older teachers can’t.
“A lot of times the kids will be referencing things in class that they’ve seen on TikTok, or just memes that they’ve seen, and then they’re shocked that I know about it as well,” Singh said.
“So, I have to remind them, ‘I’m not that much older than you guys,’ and that we consume the same media.”
Because he doesn’t share his age with his students, many automatically assume he is in his 30s and 40s, Singh said.
Singh says his age is also a benefit when it comes to lesson planning.
“We’re also able to reflect on our education, our experiences in school that were just a couple years ago,” he said. ‘We’re able to kind of reflect and see what worked for us and what we wish we could have done in school.”
Funding for this journalism is made possible by the Arizona Local News Foundation.
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