Why are phones being banned in school?

People who support cellphone bans in school largely say that they’re a disturbance and distract student learning. Schools banned cell phones because just as more kids began spending more time with their phones, there was a massive spike in depression and mental illness.

States such as Florida, Indiana, Ohio, South Carolina, and Louisiana have recently passed laws banning or restricting cell phones in schools. However, countless school districts in other states have implemented policies to limit use.

Some schools don’t ban cell phones, but they ban WiFi. They claim that they want to protect kids from harmful and distracting content on the internet.

Schools think that while the internet is a useful tool to do just that, it also brings countless dangers that schools should be wary of. And aside from danger, the internet can be just plain distracting. Teachers have to do enough to keep students’ attention without internet games and social media sites to worry about.

Young adults are less supportive of school cellphone bans

There is one group that is wary of cellphone bans, young adults. They are much less likely to support restrictions in schools than older people.

“The reason for the weaker support among this age group may have to do with wanting to reach people in an emergency.

“It’s important not to assume that Generation Z is ‘addicted’ to their phones and therefore less likely to support banning the devices,” Said Meryl Alper, an associate professor of communication studies at Northeastern University.

There are things such as school shootings and drill training that can happen. Having a cell phone nearby might give people a sense of safety and comfort during those times.

Adults also might not support cellphone bans simply because they are inconvenient and not a good match for the busy lives of today’s families, according to Melissa Di Martino, an associate professor of psychology at the New York Institute of Technology.

Interview

Alexa Beck, a student at Colonia High School, said, “I think phones should not be banned in schools. The schools do not own the phones so they should not be able to take them away. More people should listen when the school tells you not to use your phone but they should not take it away.”

She said phones may be a distraction, but it may differ for each student. “I think phones should be on a wall rather than have no wifi. The teachers have no wifi too and it is a problem.” She said.

Mr. Kurowsky, a teacher at Colonia High School said that it’s complicated. He would love to say yes but it’s not that simple. “I know students have to contact family and there should be a way for students to contact them without being distracted,” he said.

He also said that he doesn’t want to be responsible for taking phones. He would rather have no wifi because he thinks having no wifi reduces the function of a phone.

Kurowsky thinks that it’s not fair if only teachers have wifi but students don’t. He wants to text his wife and he knows that students want to text their mom or dad too.

Opinion

In schools, phones should not be banned. Phones can be a lifesaver in dangerous situations such as kidnappings, accidents, and assaults.

Especially nowadays there are school shootings, I want to be able to call my parents in an emergency.