Image credit: Eamonn Fitzmaurice/The 74
Some parents, seeking the ability to reach their kids at all times, have become unexpected but forceful opponents of schools’ attempts to ban phones.
A rural school district in Colorado made an attempt to prohibit the use of smartphones, but faced opposition from parents. This conflict sheds light on the ongoing battle between schools and parents regarding the integration of technology in education.
Smartphones have become a major source of disciplinary issues in schools, with incidents such as cyberbullying, invasion of privacy (eg. bathroom spying), and recording of altercations contributing to disruptions
Smartphones have become a major source of disciplinary issues in schools, with incidents such as cyberbullying, invasion of privacy (eg. bathroom spying), and recording of altercations contributing to disruptions. Educators and administrators believe that banning electronic devices is necessary to refocus students and address behavioral problems. However, parents argue that they need to be able to communicate with their children for both emergencies and everyday scheduling matters.
In Brush, Colorado, the school district reached a compromise for the 2022-23 academic year, allowing students to keep their phones out of sight. Students were required to obtain permission and use the office phone to contact their parents. While this policy remains in place, some parents found it too restrictive and opted to transfer their children to other schools.
Experts often attribute smartphones to exacerbating the mental health crisis among youth through social media and its stress-inducing features. Teachers find themselves spending a significant amount of time monitoring phone usage, and even reluctant school systems acknowledge that the issue is far from being resolved. A recent report from Common Sense Media revealed that approximately a quarter of notifications received by teenagers on their phones occur during school hours. Teens spend an average of 43 minutes on their smartphones during the school day, primarily engaging with social media and messaging apps. Teachers note that parents are often the ones reaching out to their children via text messages.
While many parents support the idea of banning cellphones in schools, a survey conducted by the National Parents Union indicated that most parents who favored such a ban also believed that phones should be allowed during passing periods, lunch, and recess. Ariel Taylor Smith, the senior director of policy and action at the National Parents Union, suggests that instead of prohibiting phones, students should be taught how to use them responsibly. Drawing from her experience as a former high school teacher and a parent, she emphasizes the importance of maintaining communication with children during the school day.
The issue of school shootings has heightened parental concerns, as the use of phones during emergencies can be crucial for student safety
The issue of school shootings has heightened parental concerns, as the use of phones during emergencies can be crucial for student safety. However, on a day-to-day basis, parents primarily use phones to communicate non-urgent messages such as reminders for extracurricular activities and changes in pickup arrangements. Studies indicate that students exhibit better comprehension and reduced anxiety when phones are not present. A boarding school in Massachusetts observed increased student engagement in class following the implementation of a smartphone ban.
Mark Daniel, the superintendent of Fort Wayne Community Schools in Indiana, piloted a cellphone ban at two middle schools and two high schools. Students were required to store their phones in pouches provided by Yondr, a company that also supplies pouches for entertainment venues. While the majority of parents supported the initiative, some expressed opposition. Daniel aims to establish a phone-free school day, starting with sixth grade. If successful, the district plans to finance the Yondr pouches through funds obtained from a lawsuit against social media companies such as Meta Platforms, Snap, and TikTok.
The debate surrounding phone usage in schools is multifaceted, with valid arguments on both sides. As schools strive to strike a balance between regulating technology and accommodating parental preferences, it is evident that the role of smartphones in education will remain a contentious issue.
