r/Futurology • u/chrisdh79 • 3d ago
Society School phone bans expand to 35 US states, sparking national debate | Teachers report fewer disruptions after states limit student phone use
https://www.techspot.com/news/109168-school-phone-bans-expand-17-additional-states.html123
u/PckMan 3d ago
When I was a kid phones were not around, at least not smartphones, and kids didn't have them. But there were other things like Gameboys or tamagotchis that a student may have tried to sneak into class. But they knew they were sneaking them in, they implicitly knew it was not allowed to have them in class and that if caught they'd be in trouble and start making up the dumb excuses children make.
Nowadays what surprises me, and that's something many people who are teachers have told me, is that when they see a student with a phone and tell them to put them down and that they're not allowed, a lot of the times the students don't just do it, but instead ask "why is it not allowed", and not in the cheeky contrarian way some children ask why to resist authority, but it's completely genuine. They honestly don't understand why it's not allowed or how it could be considered disruptive.
7
u/JamesDerecho 2d ago
Staff and teachers were a lot stricter when I was in school.
I got busted for having unplugged earbuds draped around my neck once while walking between classes. Got detention for them despite having just come from a computer class that required that I bring headphones. My home room teacher was monitoring detention that day and just asked me why I was there. I told her what happened. And she just let me leave after 10 minutes.
First and only time I had detention that wasn’t related to tardiness.
1
u/elpajaroquemamais 2d ago
The difference is it’s their lifeline to the outside world and their parents. I agree with bans but you can’t compare the two.
1
-30
u/could_use_a_snack 3d ago
I think the problem with phones is that although they can be a distraction, they are also a tool. I find it hard to be without mine for too long, not because I need to check my socials, but because I need to...
See what time it is Do some math Take a note Snap a reference photo Start a timer Use a flashlight Ask a question Get directions
The list goes on.
And yes, you can do all those things in a non-phone way, but once you start to consolidate all your tools into one device it's difficult to A) separate them into individual systems again, and B) Do without like I used too. It's convenient to be able to text a friend that can help with a problem, and get the answers within a reasonable time, rather then walk away from what I'm doing to find a payphone and hope they answer. That's a poor example, but it gets the point across I think.
49
u/IGot6Throwaways 3d ago
And you don't need to do those in class as a high school student with your phone. Learning how to be resourceful is a huge part of being a high school student and the period where being able to use your phone was included in that has passed
21
u/RevenantXenos 3d ago
Exactly. If a student needs to know what time it is they can look at the clock in the classroom or wear a watch. If they need to do math they can use a calculator. Notes can be written down. If they are doing an activity that requires a flash light the school should provide it. Answering questions is what the teacher is there for. Want to take a photo, wait until after school.
I volunteer with middle school and high school kids and we are going to do a phone ban this fall during our activities. We do craft and outdoor focused activities and the point is to be fun, but phones are still too disruptive. We want kids to be present, engaged and socializing with each other. That doesn't work when some of them have headphones on, one is distracting 3 others with a video and someone is trying to look up alternative instructions online. I have observed everyone had more fun anyway when they aren't on their phones so our new policy is everyone checks their phone in when they arrive and get it back when they leave. This will also cut down on the monthly drama of someone set their phone down somewhere and forgot and has to spend half an hour looking for it when I'm trying to go home. My opinion is that phones are bad for kids and ruins their attention spans and it's becoming important for adults to model spending time without phones for kids.. If parents really feel the need to have constant contact they should give their kids dumb phones that only do calls and texts. But in all my years of volunteering I have never seen a situation where a kid needed to use a phone to contact parents that could not have been done by an adult volunteer. So if parents want their kids to be in my program now they have to accept them being disconnected for a few hours.
18
u/nbxcv 3d ago
school students don't need to be texting friends or walking to find payphones surely. you're describing your needs as an adult outside of a classroom. Classrooms have calculators, schools have flashlights if necessary, etc. what an odd response.
-18
u/could_use_a_snack 3d ago
I know it sounds odd. But the point I'm making is once you get used to having all those things at your disposal, it's tough to let them go. If you could remove the disruptive part of the phone form the utility of it, that would be ideal. But you can't. Kids are going to have phones. Banning them shouldn't be the first solution. Maybe teach kids how to use them as a tool instead of using them as a distraction would be a better approach.
We are stuck with phone in our lives, their utility is just to much to give up. Not teaching students how to manage that part of their lives seems irresponsible.
In the district I work in, they don't let the kids use their phones during class or in the hallway between classes, without asking permission. They can use them during lunch and during their "free" period. But if they are caught using the phone without permission they have to turn it into the office and need a parents approval to get it back after school.
Banning them all together just seems like a poor way of handling it.
7
u/realnicehandz 3d ago
The reality is that less than 10% of phone usage is for productive tools and 90% is for distraction. "We're addicted to it now" isn't a good justification for basically anything. And not only that, these kids will have their entire lives to do whatever it is the fuck they want to do with technology like the rest of us have. They need 18 years to develop without the so-very-obviously-negative outcomes caused by this tech. Not being able to use the flashlight or note app might be the most absurd argument for their use I've ever heard.
-6
u/could_use_a_snack 3d ago
10% of phone usage is for productive tools and 90% is for distraction
Source?
2
u/Beautiful-Web1532 3d ago
Alright. Maybe you are real. Your first comment was just so weird, though.
2
u/could_use_a_snack 3d ago
I appreciate the retraction. Thanks for that. It just makes my hair on the back of my neck stand up when people start tossing around the word 'ban'. Especially when other solutions are available.
-5
u/SlashZom 2d ago
The thing that I don't understand is that if children are being disruptive in the classroom then they should be disciplined by parents. Why does a school have to tell me that my child who is not a disruption with their phone is not allowed to have their phone on them in case I as their parent need to reach them in an emergency?
We've all known for a long time that blanket rules don't adequately meet the needs of all the people under them, and that schools were never designed to teach people but instead to make obedient worker drones.
At the end of the day I'm going to continue to provide my child the cell phone and I will have words with any teacher or School authority that tries to tell me that I cannot. And if my child abuses that privilege by doing things they're not supposed to do in the classroom with their phone, then I as their parent will deal with that.
5
2
u/TrumpDesWillens 2d ago
There is no reason why a parent has to contact a child directly when the front office is there to take calls and disseminate information.
10
u/MadRoboticist 3d ago
And none of those things are particularly relevant, outside of maybe math, in a classroom.
1
u/Darkdragoon324 3d ago
Kids in school should be writing proofs and showing the work in math class, not using calculators. That's how you actually understand the how and why of math!
2
2
u/Beautiful-Web1532 3d ago
Uh, wrong context. They don't want phones in a classroom while a teacher is trying to stimulate whatever brain cells tik tok forgot to scramble. Payphones don't exist anymore either. I'm starting to think you are not real, didn't read what we are talking about, and are not real, or just autistic, and not real.
2
u/PckMan 3d ago
I am not denying the utility phones can have, though I will say it is lost to most people and the main use of phones is to brain rot. I'm saying that that's all well and good, but students should be able to understand how a phone can be disruptive in the classroom without needing to have it spelled out. We're talking about high school age students here.
-8
u/jonnynoine 3d ago
My grandson is always questioning the things he’s told to do or obey. I don’t understand children these days.
7
u/garrus-ismyhomeboy 3d ago
What’s wrong with wanting to know why you can’t do something if you don’t know? Sounds like good learning opportunities.
1
58
u/the_raven12 3d ago
Seems like common sense. I feel for the teachers having to deal with cell phones the last decade+. Makes no sense at all and sets kids up for failure.
28
u/DetroitLionsSBChamps 3d ago
Something that never occurred to me before also is that instead of kids talking to each other and making friends, they’re just on their phones.
I wouldn’t have any friends in my adult life if I hadn’t been bored in high school and meeting cool people.
Sets them up for academic failure but also turns their most social environment into just more screens. That’s real fucked up.
8
u/the_raven12 3d ago
Yup totally. I bet they are on phones at recess too.
15
u/Hoopscoach32 3d ago
Our high school school implemented a very strict policy in comparison to the other schools in our district. Students weren’t allowed to have them in class but were still allowed to have them in hallways and at lunch. For the most part it really improved the classroom behavior and student engagement. We still had to police it in the classroom and some days were better than others but after s few weeks it became routine. However, it was still shocking how the moment kids left the classroom they were on their phones. At lunch they sat in groups but just stared at their phones as soon as they finished eating. This year we have a state law that doesn’t allow for any phones during school hours and while it has only been a week it noticeably different in the hallways. The hallways sound like they did 10 years ago. They are loud again. Lunch is loud again. That is a good thing. Kids are talking to each other again.
3
u/the_raven12 3d ago
That’s so positive to hear! Regardless of how highly we think of ourselves - at the most basic level we are still animals. It’s like not letting puppies play with each other. Not good.
2
u/sump_daddy 1d ago
And every one of those kids had that phone pressed into their hands by their PARENTS who muttered 'here you go, keep in touch'
7
-8
u/cykoTom3 3d ago
It should be at the teacher's discretion. Some classes literally require cell phone use. Some make it so much easier it's silly. Many of these states did not give the teacher an inch of leeway.
5
u/sticklebat 3d ago
No class requires cell phone use. All these classes existed before cell phones existed, and it wasn't even that long ago that you couldn't even expect most students to have a smartphone; and even today some students don't. Also, public schools requiring a smartphone for a class, without offering to provide one to students without, would probably violate one or more federal laws, and in most cases, also state laws.
There are some activities and tools that don't work without cell phones, but there are alternatives for all of them. Many of them can be used with school-provided devices, like tablets or laptops/chromebooks, and the ones that can't be are necessary and worthwhile casualties.
And I'm speaking as a teacher who has frequently had his students use their phones for a variety of purposes. There are a bunch of things I won't be able to do anymore, now that cell phones are banned in my state for the entirety of the school day. But it's so worth it. Cell phones have been overwhelmingly the single biggest detriment to my students' learning, and to their socialization, and to their mental health and well-being. Switching back to lower-tech versions of some of my activities in exchange for cell phones disappearing for the whole school day is the easiest trade in the world.
I guess I can add that my school has had a ban on cell phones during instructional time, up to the teacher's prerogative, for like a decade. And while that worked somewhat okay before covid, it has been a complete and unmitigated disaster ever since it. The mere availability of cell phones is enough to be a distraction, and students have neither the discipline, judgment, or respect to keep them silent and away while they're supposed to be. It also results in inconsistent enforcement, which confuses students and also causes them to resent the teachers who do enforce the ban.
-4
u/cykoTom3 3d ago
So...the class on social media navigation or app development doesn't require a cell phone?
3
u/sticklebat 3d ago
A class on "social media navigation"? For real? If that even exists, I won't mourn its passing.
A class on app development does not require a cell phone. Especially if it's android-based, then there are literally dozens of ways to avoid ever needing a phone. But there are also ways to test iOS apps without an iphone. There are emulators, and if a school really wants to run an iOS app development course, they can always provide ipads. And if these phone bans make iOS app development courses less common and apple isn't happy with it, apple can always get off its ass and make developing for its ecosystem easier.
-4
u/cykoTom3 3d ago
Sure. Would be real dumb to teach people how to navigate the most ubiquitous form of media in existence right now. What a useless class (he says on social media).
2
u/sticklebat 3d ago
No, it would be real dumb to dedicate an entire class to "navigating social media." What an asinine concept. One doesn't need a whole course on it (most don't need to be taught at all, it's designed to be easy to use, and frankly it's no great loss of someone doesn't know how to use social media; in fact it would be a blessing).
What kids really need is to understand media literacy, including how it pertains to social media, but no one needs a physical phone in front of them for that, and this is already taught to varying extents within existing curriculum. For one, most social media is readily available on computers, and for two, most such instruction doesn't need the actual platform.
0
u/profmonocle 3d ago
Why would a class about social media require a personal cell phone? Every social media site of note is available on the web.
If there are app development classes presumably they'd be using school equipment as well.
1
u/cykoTom3 3d ago
I mean...you can probably drive a car with your knees if you try hard.
1
u/profmonocle 3d ago
Are you talking about how to actually... use the apps? I assumed you meant "navigating" metaphorically - do you mean classes on how to actually use social media apps? Because that doesn't need to be taught.
-5
u/cykoTom3 3d ago
Are the teachers who did not enforce the ban before magically going to now? Sounds like shitty teachers. These draconian bans aren't gonna magically fix that. It's just gonna punish the good people. Bad students with shit teachers are gonna use their phones. But whatever. Reddit loves to say how shitty cell phones are from thier cell phones.
1
u/sticklebat 3d ago
Are the teachers who did not enforce the ban before magically going to now? Sounds like shitty teachers.
First of all, in many cases – yes, they will. There is a big difference between "the state legislature bans students from having cells phones throughout the school day or during class" with actionable, consistent consequences enforced by the administration, and a principal telling their faculty "we're banning phones, but you can use your own prerogative to allow them if you want to, and there are no real consequences for students who don't listen." You may not believe it, but it does, in fact, make a difference (and there is plenty of research backing this up, by the way).
Battling cell phones took up a huge fraction of class time (there were some classes where I'd spend 20-30% of my time just dealing with kids and their phones), and a lot of teachers decided it wasn't worth the time or frustration, and to cut their losses and accept that some of their students would just not be paying attention. And when it is left up to individual teachers, then teachers who choose to enforce the ban or didn't allow their students to use their phones are seen as the bad guys, because it is, after all, their choice. Shifting the choice upwards shifts the "blame" off of the teachers, which helps teachers maintain a positive, non-confrontational relationship with students. It may seem silly, but it does indeed work that way. If you don't believe me, I'd suggest you try your hand at teaching...
Furthermore, students themselves will respond differently. If a rule is fuzzy, most students will ignore it, especially if the consequences for ignoring it are minimal. If a rule is clear, without wiggle room, and especially if violating it comes with consequences, then most students will actually follow it without additional prompting. Which means less class-time is wasted by teachers dealing with cell phones. And the more kids follow it, the more normal no phones becomes, and the less time anyone things about their phones, and the more kids who violate the rules will stand out. And most kids try not to stand out.
55
u/TheMooseIsBlue 3d ago
Anecdotally, I’m a teacher and many of us used to collect them before class and it was a constant battle. The school unilaterally mandated it midway through last semester and it is wonderful. In my experience, they should 100% be banned from schools (or at least from classrooms).
24
u/Orzorn 3d ago
I imagine that having students without their phones for 7+ hours a day also helps reduce their dependency on the things. For those of us who grew up without phones, if I don't have my phone I can manage just fine for the rest of my time. I know how to be patient, or at least how to waste time without a phone.
11
u/chewbaccalaureate 3d ago
An interesting byproduct is that classes get a bit louder.
When kids can't pass every ounce of downtime on their phone (or school-issued device), they realize there are other human beings sitting at the tables with them, and they talk.
I'd much rather deal with the classroom management of that while they develop social skills than telling students to put their phone away all day and continue to feed their phone addiction and decency on screens.
8
u/DigitalPriest 3d ago
I used to teach technology. For a long time, I didn't want to ban phones in my classroom, telling myself "I should teach them to use it responsibly." It's a losing battle. There's no way I as one person can compete against the dopamine hits of internet social media.
Banning them was the best decision I ever made. My A students, instead of doing their assignment in 30 minutes and camping on their phones for an hour, would now go putz around with my 3D printers, laser cutters, work in the woodshop. They'd get curious and come up with projects to do. Or they'd help their friends finish their assignments so they both could do something fun, go CNC a guitar, build a circuit, etc. I thought it would only be a benefit to my struggling students, but in fact, it was a radical change for all of my students. They had to be social again. They had to learn how to negotiate, compromise, instead of just staring listlessly into the 6" screen.
I didn't care if they were louder. I didn't care if they sometimes made a mess, got in trouble, or broke something. They were finally learning again. Not just my content. No, they were learning for their own fun, learning to work with one another, learning how to share, how to imagine, and that was worth absolute gold.
I'll never go back, never again. I would refuse to teach at any school that doesn't prohibit personal devices during the school day.
4
u/ToastGoast93 3d ago
They get louder but also more focused on the content (I’m a math teacher). Very worthwhile trade off in my opinion/experience
9
u/MisterBigDude 3d ago
I’m a long-time teacher, recently retired. Most of my teaching was in a private school where middle schoolers had to leave phones in their lockers all day, while high schoolers had to keep them put away during classes.
Some years ago, I saw a documentary filmed in a high school in Kansas. (It might have been The First 9 Months — I don’t remember.) When one scene showed students doing things on their phones in class, ignoring their teacher, I was aghast. Why would that ever be permitted?
Phone bans during the school day just seem like common sense.
4
5
u/StretchyLemon 3d ago
Former teacher, totally agree. I’m in the medical field now and it still persists. I’ve had kids (and adults) literally be on FaceTime chatting with a friend while I’m trying to do my exam. Luckily most people shape up when you tell them in this regard, unlike in rhe classroom.
1
u/burnhaze4days 1d ago
Who's gonna enforce that, the phone police?
1
u/TheMooseIsBlue 1d ago
The teachers and administrators. You make it sound far fetched. I did it in all three of my classes today. It’s not a very big deal.
8
u/creaturefeature16 3d ago
My kids school district just implemented a bell to bell ban, right when they're going into middle school where things have really deteriorated due to social media and phones in general. I'm overjoyed they won't have to deal with it and will be able to go to school without that influence.
6
u/um_chili 3d ago
Parent of two school age kids on one of the states with bans. I don’t agree with a LOT of the politics in my state but I am 100% behind this. The evidence on kids and smartphones is overall scary about how much they can harm development, education, socialization, self-reliance, etc. My state has a hard ban on bringing any device to school, not just a squishy “not in class” ban that’s onerous for teachers to enforce. Have seen zero problems and teachers are very happy with it. My kids are too young for phones IMO but many kids still have them so this also saves me from having to have my kids exposed to phones when I don’t want them to yet and also avoids conversations about why cant’ they have them bc X Y and Z do. Great policy, thrilled we have it.
4
u/chrisdh79 3d ago
From the article: The big picture: Restricting cell phone use has become one of the most significant policy shifts in schools in recent years. In just two academic years, what started as an isolated measure in Florida has grown into a national debate involving nearly three dozen states, as well as educators, parents, and researchers. While it's still too early to determine its full impact, the restrictions have already reshaped the daily routines of millions of students.
Seventeen states and the District of Columbia began this academic year with new limits on student cellphone use, marking one of the fastest-moving trends in American education policy. With the latest additions, a total of 35 states now have laws or rules restricting phones and other electronic devices during the school day.
The rapid adoption of these policies follows Florida's 2023 law – the first statewide mandate of its kind – and represents a rare instance of bipartisan agreement. Lawmakers from both parties argue that phone use interferes with learning and student well-being. Supporters link phones to classroom disruptions and reduced focus, while critics contend that the evidence is not yet conclusive.
The scope of the bans varies by state. Several prohibit phones throughout the school day. Some, such as Georgia and Florida, enforce "bell-to-bell" restrictions only for kindergarten through eighth grade. Seven states limit prohibitions to class time, allowing students to use devices during lunch or passing periods. Other states leave it to districts to set their own policies, often with the implicit expectation that tighter controls will follow.
Classroom enforcement differs widely. Some students begin the day by placing phones in magnetic lockable pouches or retrieving loaner devices from dedicated storage lockers.
Early reports suggest students are adjusting to the new limits, though reactions remain mixed. At McNair High School near Atlanta, where restrictions began last year, junior Audreanna Johnson told the Associated Press that initial pushback is starting to ease. Many students initially resisted turning over their phones because they were used to texting classmates and socializing during lessons.
Still, some students note drawbacks. Johnson said she relies on music through headphones to concentrate on schoolwork and expressed frustration at losing that option.
At Kentucky's Doss High School, senior Jamel Bishop observed that the ban is reshaping classroom dynamics. With fewer interruptions, he said, teachers can provide "more one-on-one time for the students who actually need it."
Parents are equally conflicted. Researchers at Emory University, who surveyed 125 Georgia school districts, found that parental resistance is the single largest obstacle to regulating phone use in schools. Many parents want reassurance that they can contact their children immediately in case of emergencies.
Parent advocates such as Jason Allen of the National Parents Union argue that schools need to address both safety communication and social-emotional development when implementing restrictions. "We just changed the cellphone policy, but aren't meeting the parents' needs," Allen said.
Evidence on the impact of phone bans is still emerging. Teachers often welcome the policies, reporting calmer classrooms and easier instruction.
Julie Gazmararian, a public health professor at Emory studying a ban in Marietta middle schools, said educators observed fewer disruptions and more student interactions in hallways and cafeterias. Discipline referrals also declined, though she cautioned that her research is ongoing and cannot yet determine whether mental health outcomes or bullying rates are changing.
Other scholars urge caution. Munmun De Choudhury, a Georgia Tech professor, noted that while social media use strongly correlates with poor mental health, research has not proven causation. "We need to be able to quantify what types of social media use are causing harm, what types of social media use can be beneficial," she said.
Despite growing momentum, not all legislatures are on board. Earlier this year, Wyoming's Senate defeated a bill requiring districts to adopt cellphone policies, with opponents arguing that decision-making should remain with teachers and parents. In Michigan, a Republican proposal for a statewide ban in K-8 classrooms and high school instructional periods failed in the House after Democrats objected on grounds of local control.
43
u/VrinTheTerrible 3d ago
The "but what about emergencies?" argument is so weak compared to the damage that having the phones available all the time does
17
u/DetroitLionsSBChamps 3d ago
As a parent I don’t understand it at all tbh.
When I was in high school I had a Nokia brick in my glovebox for emergencies. Couldn’t imagine a whole school with every video game and social media distraction in the world available all day long in their pockets. Truly what the fuck
10
u/chewbaccalaureate 3d ago
The thing is, it's often parent-driven. Most times, it's parents who push back about that in wanting to be able to contact their kid.
Parents are enabling this behavior, and you can see the beginning of this when babies/toddlers are sitting in the cart at the grocery store glued to a phone, or inconsiderate lazy parents have a loud video playing for them while at a restaurant.
6
5
u/walale12 3d ago
That never made sense to Me. Like those parents can still call the school, the parent's going to need time to come to school and pick up the child if it's an emergency anyway, so it's not like calling the school who then notifies the child is going to cause any delay.
-7
u/FirstEvolutionist 3d ago edited 3d ago
If the goal is for children not to be distracted: you are not teaching moderation or safe use, you are teaching total abstinence. These kids will grow up unprepared for environments that will not have the same policy.
If the goal is to keep children safe from the very real dangers of smartphone usage: you are limiting this restriction to school only.
If the goal is for kids to be safe: you are also removing their only means of communication, reminders for medicine, and pretty much an "everything tool" which can record abuse, violence and all sort of things that would inhibit such behaviors and actually keep kids protected.
Total outright bans never worked towards the goals they were put in place for and it's a shame people still haven't learned the lesson.
And just in case the questions eventually arise: Yes, there are better solutions. Yes, they are more difficult to implement. No, free use of cellphones is not good either and it is not what I'm suggesting should be done instead.
1
u/VrinTheTerrible 3d ago
Two pronged, I'd say:
- Keep them from taking away focus at school
- Reduce the amount of screentime
1
u/DetroitLionsSBChamps 3d ago
I guess I don’t agree that it’s the schools job to teach moderate cell phone use. Or that school policies should also strive to impact students when they’re not in school.
And I don’t think the safety argument is very compelling. All other generations didn’t have cell phones on them at school and I would argue they were at an acceptable level of safety.
Like, you could make this same argument for alcohol in schools to some extent. “Well a total ban doesn’t teach moderation, and total bans don’t work.”
I think for some things, a total ban DOES make sense. And phones in schools are one of them.
1
u/FirstEvolutionist 3d ago
“Well a total ban doesn’t teach moderation, and total bans don’t work.”
Alcohol doesn't offer the same benefits that a smart phone does... a more apt comparison albeit still not one to one would have been sex education. At least some people advocate for total ban whereas others believe in a different approach.
In any case
I guess I don’t agree that it’s the schools job to teach moderate cell phone use.
We disagree on fundamental levels about what the school is supposed to teach or how it should educate, so I doubt we would find much common ground on general policies surrounding education anyway.
The downvotes make it clear my opinion is unpopular though, but thank you for sharing and responding in any case.
1
u/DetroitLionsSBChamps 3d ago
The sex ed comparison makes me think that we definitely could make room for digital responsibility classes in school to try to keep up with the times. But it still doesn’t follow that we must also let kids have cell phones in school to go along with it. We teach sex ed but don’t let them have sex in the schools lol
1
u/FirstEvolutionist 3d ago
Now you're getting close to my original point: banning cell phones in school solves one problem, but it is not a complete solution because it ignores the root cause of the problem. Besides causing others.
I also don't believe that letting kids have free use of cellphones in school or in the classroom is the correct solution either, but when you criticize an imperfect solution, a lot of people are quick to attack your opinion by suggesting you are supporting the opposite opinion.
0
u/DigitalPriest 3d ago
You can't teach someone to use pharmaceuticals safely while handing them heroin.
For the same reason, you can't teach people responsible technology use and give them unfettered access to the internet at any time.
1
u/FirstEvolutionist 3d ago
For the same reason, you can't teach people responsible technology use and give them unfettered access to the internet at any time.
Maybe you didn't read my comment to the end, but I thought it was pretty clear that wasn't what I was suggesting: "No, free use of cellphones is not good either and it is not what I'm suggesting should be done instead."
0
11
1
u/Mayor__Defacto 3d ago
If there’s an emergency there’s a phone on the teacher’s desk. Parents can do what our parents did and call the office, who will then page the kid if necessary.
13
3
u/Milehighcarson 3d ago
The problem with these bans is that they are going only as effective if parents care and are onboard. Our kids high school has a ban. If a staff member sees a phone out between bells, they can call the office and a security officer will confiscate the phone and take it to the office. If the student is under 18, then a parent has to come in to get the phone back.
I spoke with the principal and she said that 9 times out of ten, the parents are pissed at her and the school for taking the phone and wasting their time coming in to get it and not at the kids for bringing the phone. Until you change that attitude, it's really a dead end.
1
u/ChoraPete 2d ago edited 2d ago
Agreed - this is the case with most policy responses to student behaviour, not just phones. Parents are the biggest problem. I am one (a parent that is, I may or may not be a problem too). It seems pretty obvious to me that mobile phones should not be used at school. I’ve seen the impact devices have on them at home and it’s not pretty. I don’t want my children to be distracted by using them in class, or by other students doing the same. Strange as it is I actually want them to learn and do the best they can at school and socialise like normal people. I also wouldn’t want them to be impacting on other student’s ability to learn or being otherwise disruptive.
2
u/bigedthebad 3d ago
I had a long conversation with my grandkids about this and we pretty much agreed it is a good thing.
It has put a crimp in my granddaughters underground cookie business.
2
u/Aether13 3d ago
I see both sides of the argument for phones. Personally I’m in favor of banning them. I think that too many parents are helicopter parents and need to realize you don’t need access to your child every moment of every day.
2
u/ToastGoast93 3d ago
Such clickbait to say it’s “sparked national debate”. Not a single teacher I’ve met who started enforcing a cell phone policy regrets it. My district has enacted one starting this year and WOW the amount of focus and productive discussion between students has legitimately tripled overnight. My AP students even told me they think it’s because they don’t have their phones on their person anymore.
2
u/hensothor 3d ago
When I was the age that smartphones started coming about - that was the policy. You could not have your phones out in class. Policy not law but as more kids got them it got out of control and they stopped caring.
2
u/Dapaaads 3d ago
Every other generation got by without the 1 in a million scenario of an emergency. But you can call the school in an emergency. Your 12-16 year old don’t need their phones on them 24/7 in school
2
u/TrueCryptographer982 3d ago
Its common sense for goodness sake.
The real challenge is phone addiction for these kids and how to deal with that in the classroom.
I sometimes think that the lack of focus and attention span created by the doom scrolling culture is being misdiagnosed as ADHD.
Kids simply are not learning how to hold their attention for more than a minute or two on anything.
2
u/grapedog 3d ago
I don't know why it's a debate, parents should have no say in the matter at all.
if there is an emergency, notify the school.
6
u/SoCalThrowAway7 3d ago edited 3d ago
Why is it a debate? What’s the argument for allowing phones during school? I got my first iPhone in high school, if the teacher saw that shit they took it for the rest of the day and literally nobody had a problem with it. Even I knew it was a reasonable consequence of getting caught with it
0
u/snoopy369 3d ago
The argument I would make is that I want kids to learn the skill of appropriate phone use, and the best way to do that is to have them available and make good choices (and sometimes bad ones) when they’re of age to learn good habits. Banning things leaves kids without the opportunity to learn to appropriately use them.
2
u/SoCalThrowAway7 3d ago
You can learn to properly use them at home, teachers don’t need to be doing that parenting when they should be teaching the actual subjects they’re paid very poorly to teach. Imagine barely being paid a living wage and being expected to teach an overfilled classroom of kids good phone habits on top of algebra.
-1
u/artemon61 3d ago
Are teachers so terrible in the West?
Why did I, a recent graduate of a teacher training college, manage to engage children in class, but you didn't? In our country, phones were only recently banned in class (but no one cares).
I've noticed that it's often the older teachers who complain, as they struggle to create an engaging and educational environment.
5
u/2cats2hats 3d ago
national debate
There is no debate. You put your kid in school, the school says no distracting devices.... you either comply or pull your kid out of school. NO EXCEPTIONS!
How little Johnny and Suzie made it through school in the 60s/70s/80s/90s/00s/10s I'll never, ever understand. /s
4
u/LonnieJaw748 3d ago
Maybe phone makers can start to work on a “School Mode”, where the phone can make and receive calls for emergencies but have no application functions. We can have airplane mode, so why not school mode?
1
u/ToastGoast93 3d ago
Personally, I’d rather the voluntary confiscation of phones rather than allowing schools to have ANY access to their contents or functionality
1
u/LonnieJaw748 3d ago
In my mind, this wouldn’t be allowing schools access to anything. Just like how the airline doesn’t have access to anything when they kindly request that flyers switch their phones to airplane mode during take-off and landing. I suppose it would be enforced by the social contract, much like how people oblige the airlines by switching their phones to a different mode upon request.
1
u/Mayor__Defacto 3d ago
There is no emergency that cannot be handled via the intercom and parents calling/being called by the office.
If something happens and the kid has to be rushed to the hospital, they’re not going to be in a position to call mom and dad. Who is? The admin folks in the office, who can call up mom and dad and tell them “x happened, and your kid is on the way to the hospital”.
4
u/iowanaquarist 3d ago
In a school in Iowa, a sexual predator school administrator was busted by his victim using a cell phone to record. Nothing happened until the parents played the recording to the school board.
Cell phones have their place
It's also important to teach kids how to resist temptation they have access to.
1
1
u/The3rdLetter 3d ago
That's crazy it took this long. I graduated HS in 09 in NYC and the bodega was making a killing holding our phones for a dollar each. Had a whole number and coupon system.
1
u/Primary-Quail-4840 3d ago
More bans, including watches, even when there are allergic conditions. These kids are too distracted and if there is a medical emergency, the teachers and staff have handled it for decades without smart watches.
Also, start looking into getting rid of these chrome books and iPADs. Let them learn on paper until 9th grade, plenty of time to catch up in high school or have the parents deal with their kids.
1
u/SilencedObserver 3d ago
This shouldn’t be controversial and is exactly what should have been from the start.
If only we hadn’t lost a generation to mis-use.
1
u/hausitron 3d ago
Ban that shit. Kids are too fucking distracted with smartphones to learn in school effectively. Never in the entire history of mankind have students needed to have smartphones in class. FOH with the "what about emergencies??" rationale. The school will take care of any emergency communication. Nowadays, administrators and teachers can mass message parents through apps like Procare or Parentsquare.
1
u/HRudy94 2d ago
It's not a good idea to strive towards more authority than towards more self-control and individual intelligence. Rather than banning phones altogether, why not ban problematic behaviors instead?
Tell the kids that phones can be good tools if used properly but do a lot of work on showing them why things like social media are toxic and should be banned.
In France, they are allowed in high schools but not during class-time. I'm glad it was the case we could therefore play games with friends during recess/lunch time and have fun. Entering university, you're free to use them as you please but you're responsible for your success/failure. I switched to being fully digital years ago, couldn't be happier.
Rather than banning phones as a whole we should instead disallow the use of tiktok and improve on the schooling process. Make classes more interesting, tell kids early on about the toxicity of social media, innovate rather than encourage a brainless society where people learn, spew what they've been taught word for word and then forget about it.
1
u/PineappleLemur 2d ago
US schools can barely ban guns.... They want to ban phones? From kids...?
Have they seen kids?
1
u/MADCATMK3 2d ago
I really feel a smarter system needs to be made. There should be a school mode built into all smartphones to limit functionality to emergency calls and calls to parents. They could add on to this, but it would solve most problems without the downsides of no phone.
1
u/xAdakis 1d ago
Personally, I don't agree with an outright ban, specifically the practice of not allowing a student to possess a phone and/or locking them up while they are at school.
They are a critical communication device for emergencies both on and off school property.
If the child's parent deems it necessary and/or appropriate for their child to carry a phone, then it should never be out of their child's reach and easily usable.
We SHOULD stress proper discipline though. The phone should remain in their pocket/backpack and on silent (not even vibrate) during school hours.
If a student doesn't have the discipline to follow that rule, then they are either too young/immature and/or need to be taught that discipline.
Additionally, there are parental controls that can be enabled on ALL phones. Parents should be setting those up, and limiting their activities during school hours.
1
u/karma-armageddon 20h ago
They need to amend the laws so if students post anything on social media after school, they get an hour of after school detention.
1
u/NewCountry13 3d ago
Personally, I support phone bans in classrooms, but wouldve been so pissed if I didn't have one during lunch. I wonder what the schools would do with other portable like switches bc I played a shit ton of that during lunch or during downtime in class with friends when we got our work done.
1
u/um_chili 3d ago
(1) Virtually impossible to enforce part-time bans. Teachers report that it takes tons of time to secure phones before class, and even then kids sneak them in. What are they doing to do, strip search kids before every class? (2) One of the big downsides of phones and devices in general is that kids don’t learn to socialize, so not having them at lunchtime or recess is the very point. Kids need to learn to play freely, socialize, get exercise, etc. Scenes of modern lunchrooms are depressing, all the kids are looking at devices, not making eye contact or talking.
1
1
u/ToastGoast93 3d ago
In my experience it’s actually really easy to enforce a part time ban. I’ve had my HS kids back for 2 weeks and they already voluntarily put their phones in my “phone jail” at the start of class WITHOUT MY PROMPTING after only 2 weeks of the policy. I have one slot on my “jail” for each seat in the classroom so I can see that everyone who’s in class has deposited their phone before we get into the class. Takes maybe 1 minute each day tops. Then they pick it up at the end of class and have it for lunch. And for what it’s worth, both socialization and productive discussion have skyrocketed in my classes since we started with this policy.
2
u/um_chili 3d ago
That’s contrary to all the other accounts I’ve heard from teachers, but it sounds like it works well for you in a HS setting. My guess is that it works less well in lower grades. But I still don’t see the value of having it at school at all. The times between class, including lunch, are times when socialization develops. Cellphones tend to kill that. I’d love to see all schools go phone-free esp bc the evidence about the addiction risks and other harms of smartphones and social media are most pronounced in adolescents.
1
u/billwood09 3d ago
A decade ago we weren’t allowed to use our phones in class and it went just fine. We could keep it off and in our bag. I don’t see the problem with that, or why this is such a controversial issue now
-3
u/GadFlyBy 3d ago
Next, get rid of all the computers outside of actual compsci instruction.
3
u/sticklebat 3d ago
No, definitely not. That would be sending education backwards by like 30 years. While computers are overused (especially in the lower grades), they nonetheless are very useful educational tools, not to mention using them is an important skill that students need to learn.
I'm just a physics teacher, but we use computers to collect and analyze data for experiments, to use simulations in order to visualize and experiment with thing that are impossible or impractical to set up in a classroom, to learn how to do research effectively, and a handful of other meaningful applications that can't reasonably be done without them, and are valuable enough to continue doing.
Find a history teacher, an english teacher, a foreign language teacher, a math teacher, and I'm sure they can all give you other examples of how computers are important instructional tools for their subjects. We should absolutely not get rid of them entirely; they just shouldn't be out and on by default. Have them stored away in a cart or in computer labs that can be reserved, when needed.
Getting rid of all computers outside of computer science instruction is, IMO, just ignorant and reactionary; the sort that results in the pendulum swinging way too far backwards, instead of finding an appropriate middle ground.
-2
-3
u/SublatedWissenschaft 3d ago
Agreed. No Chromebooks or issued laptops. Have an actual computer lab.
All classrooms should be open and paper only. Maybe exceptions for digital notepads like the Remarkable
3
u/dlist925 3d ago
That will definitely prepare them for adult life in real-world offices where absolutely nothing is done on computers!
0
-3
u/MadRoboticist 3d ago
I feel like we should expect a little more out of schools than just blanket bans. There are responsible ways to have a cell phone in school. Cell phones aren't a new thing these days and kids have always had things that can be disruptive to the classroom, cell phones are just the latest thing. Teachers and schools can find ways to deal with it, just like they've figured it out in the past.
-5
u/igoyard 3d ago
Unless the country has solved school shooting, there is not a chance in hell l’d send my kid to school without a way to directly communicate with them.
0
u/Aether13 3d ago
Do you think there is a chance that no phones in school might reduce school shootings? A lot of the issues start because kids have unfiltered access to each other.
-3
u/nowhereman136 3d ago
I always thought if i were a teacher, specifially history, id challenge my students to use their phones to fact check me in real time. I would tell them there is one piece of information in each lesson that will be wrong, like a date or name, and whoever can call me out on it will get an extra point. If they are going to be on their phones, they might as well use them to study in class instead of goofing off. No idea if this will actually work, just an idea i had
-10
u/Jazzlike-Vacation230 3d ago
But how will we know if there’s a school shooting? Y’all basically stole our kids freedom of speech. Texting during a shooting cause police are useless was their only way of getting help….
1
•
u/FuturologyBot 3d ago
The following submission statement was provided by /u/chrisdh79:
From the article: The big picture: Restricting cell phone use has become one of the most significant policy shifts in schools in recent years. In just two academic years, what started as an isolated measure in Florida has grown into a national debate involving nearly three dozen states, as well as educators, parents, and researchers. While it's still too early to determine its full impact, the restrictions have already reshaped the daily routines of millions of students.
Seventeen states and the District of Columbia began this academic year with new limits on student cellphone use, marking one of the fastest-moving trends in American education policy. With the latest additions, a total of 35 states now have laws or rules restricting phones and other electronic devices during the school day.
The rapid adoption of these policies follows Florida's 2023 law – the first statewide mandate of its kind – and represents a rare instance of bipartisan agreement. Lawmakers from both parties argue that phone use interferes with learning and student well-being. Supporters link phones to classroom disruptions and reduced focus, while critics contend that the evidence is not yet conclusive.
The scope of the bans varies by state. Several prohibit phones throughout the school day. Some, such as Georgia and Florida, enforce "bell-to-bell" restrictions only for kindergarten through eighth grade. Seven states limit prohibitions to class time, allowing students to use devices during lunch or passing periods. Other states leave it to districts to set their own policies, often with the implicit expectation that tighter controls will follow.
Classroom enforcement differs widely. Some students begin the day by placing phones in magnetic lockable pouches or retrieving loaner devices from dedicated storage lockers.
Early reports suggest students are adjusting to the new limits, though reactions remain mixed. At McNair High School near Atlanta, where restrictions began last year, junior Audreanna Johnson told the Associated Press that initial pushback is starting to ease. Many students initially resisted turning over their phones because they were used to texting classmates and socializing during lessons.
Still, some students note drawbacks. Johnson said she relies on music through headphones to concentrate on schoolwork and expressed frustration at losing that option.
At Kentucky's Doss High School, senior Jamel Bishop observed that the ban is reshaping classroom dynamics. With fewer interruptions, he said, teachers can provide "more one-on-one time for the students who actually need it."
Parents are equally conflicted. Researchers at Emory University, who surveyed 125 Georgia school districts, found that parental resistance is the single largest obstacle to regulating phone use in schools. Many parents want reassurance that they can contact their children immediately in case of emergencies.
Parent advocates such as Jason Allen of the National Parents Union argue that schools need to address both safety communication and social-emotional development when implementing restrictions. "We just changed the cellphone policy, but aren't meeting the parents' needs," Allen said.
Evidence on the impact of phone bans is still emerging. Teachers often welcome the policies, reporting calmer classrooms and easier instruction.
Julie Gazmararian, a public health professor at Emory studying a ban in Marietta middle schools, said educators observed fewer disruptions and more student interactions in hallways and cafeterias. Discipline referrals also declined, though she cautioned that her research is ongoing and cannot yet determine whether mental health outcomes or bullying rates are changing.
Other scholars urge caution. Munmun De Choudhury, a Georgia Tech professor, noted that while social media use strongly correlates with poor mental health, research has not proven causation. "We need to be able to quantify what types of social media use are causing harm, what types of social media use can be beneficial," she said.
Despite growing momentum, not all legislatures are on board. Earlier this year, Wyoming's Senate defeated a bill requiring districts to adopt cellphone policies, with opponents arguing that decision-making should remain with teachers and parents. In Michigan, a Republican proposal for a statewide ban in K-8 classrooms and high school instructional periods failed in the House after Democrats objected on grounds of local control.
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/1my5j1r/school_phone_bans_expand_to_35_us_states_sparking/na9mttc/