Banning Phones in Schools: A Partial Solution to Phone Usage

Pennsylvania legislators are pushing for laws to ban phones during classes in K-12 public schools, aiming to address the issue of student phone usage and its impact on learning. Rep. Barb Gleim's House Bill 2043 seeks to prohibit students from possessing or using personal mobile devices during the school day, while Sen. Ryan Aument's proposed legislation suggests using secure, lockable phone bags to limit students' phone use.

The debate around banning phones in schools has broader implications for student mental health, social skills, and academic success, highlighting the need for a comprehensive approach to address phone usage. As policymakers consider phone bans, they must also confront the underlying issues driving phone addiction and its effects on young people.

Over 75% of U.S. K-12 public schools already prohibit non-academic cellphone use, according to a 2021-22 school year report. Florida became the first state to ban student cellphone use during class time and block access to social media on district Wi-Fi in July. Similar bills are advancing in Indiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Vermont.

Rep. Barb Gleim stated, "They're playing solitaire on it, they're playing games on it, and they're using social media. But they're not actually using it for school. We got to get back to the basics where kids are coming in and getting down to business learning math, science, and reading without being distracted by a cell phone." Sen. Ryan Aument added, "While it's great that the Commonwealth dedicated an additional $100 million last year to schools to care for students' mental health, that money won't go very far unless we get at the root cause of the problem. Because we know widespread access to smartphones and social media apps increases depression, anxiety, feelings of isolation, and even suicidal thoughts in teens and children, my bill is a commonsense approach to improve student mental health and academic performance alike."

However, some argue that banning phones is not a comprehensive solution. A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association stated that locally elected school leaders are best positioned to make decisions related to student use of electronic devices during the school day. A teacher also commented that students can still access games and social media on computers and Chromebooks even with phone bans in place.

Why this matters: The debate around banning phones in schools highlights the broader issue of phone usage and its impact on students' mental health, social skills, and academic success. Some critics argue that focusing on phone bans distracts from more pressing issues, such as teacher shortages, underpaid teachers, dilapidated schools, and funding cuts.

As legislators in Pennsylvania and other states push for phone bans in schools, the effectiveness of such measures remains to be seen. While proponents argue that banning phones will improve student focus and mental health, others maintain that a more holistic approach, addressing both school and home environments, is necessary to tackle the complex issue of phone usage among students.

Key Takeaways

• Pennsylvania lawmakers propose banning phones in K-12 public schools to improve learning.
• Over 75% of US K-12 public schools already prohibit non-academic cellphone use.
• Similar bills are advancing in Indiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Vermont.
• Proponents argue phone bans will improve focus and mental health, while critics say it's not a comprehensive solution.
• A holistic approach addressing both school and home environments is needed to tackle phone usage among students.