Mobile phone use in schools

Various methods to tackle cell phone use in classrooms have been featured, ranging from strict bans to more flexible approaches aimed at reducing distractions while maintaining students' access to technology.

Meanwhile, some teachers have adopted a middle ground approach, offering "cell phone breaks" midway through class to allow students brief moments to check their devices, while still maintaining focus during instructional time.

These solutions are often discussed in online forums and social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram where teachers share their experiences and strategies for balancing technology use with classroom engagement.

Similarly, The Angry Birds Movie 2 (2019) features characters struggling with tech distractions, mirroring real-world issues teachers face with student devices.

British drama Class (2016) also explores technology's disruptive effect in the classroom, though with a more fantastical twist, while Glee (Season 2, Episode 3) touches on the distractions caused by personal lives and cell phones in a school setting.

Films like Freedom Writers (2007) and Bad Teacher (2011) also show technology, including cell phones, as one of the many distractions that complicate the teaching environment, even if it isn't the main focus of the storyline.

[3] The general consensus among educators, particularly high school teachers, reflects growing concerns about the negative impact of cell phone use on students’ focus, academic performance, and mental health.

On platforms like TikTok and Instagram, educators frequently share their classroom policies on managing phones, offering insights into various strategies that aim to minimize disruptions.

Many teachers express frustration over having to "police" phone use in addition to their regular duties, and a growing number advocate for uniform district-wide policies to address the issue more effectively.

[5] A 2024 National Education Association (NEA) poll revealed that 90% of teachers support banning phones during instructional time, with 75% favoring restrictions for the entire school day.

Teachers highlight how social media and entertainment apps like Netflix and FaceTime are major distractions, with students often checking their phones for updates, leading to a lack of engagement in lessons.

In places like Red Bank, New Jersey, and Santa Barbara, California, this approach has expanded into district-wide policies, with positive feedback from educators about improved engagement and reduced stress.

Despite this, educators generally agree that stricter, more consistent policies are necessary to address the ongoing challenges of cell phone use in the classroom, particularly as the presence of smartphones continues to grow among younger generations.

[4] Pros An increase in access to technological devices could develop workplace skills such as rapid searching, browsing, assessing quality, and synthesizing large quantities of information.

In 2023, the United States surgeon general issued an advisory warning that social media can carry a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.

[17] An article by Emma Henderson, a journalist for the United Kingdom (UK) publication The Independent, describes phantom vibrations caused by "learned bodily behavior," where the part of the body to which the phone is closest becomes very sensitive.

Therefore, breaking the habit of frequently checking one's phone can not only be beneficial for students but also convey more respect towards the professors and teachers whose lectures are constantly interrupted by cellular distractions.

Former Premier of New South Wales Gladys Berejiklian stated in an ABC news article that the policy was intended to "ensure mobile phones and other smart devices complement students' learning".

Phones are currently banned or restricted in public and state primary and secondary schools in every jurisdiction except for the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Queensland.

In Western Australia and the Northern Territory, rules intended to stop students from using their mobile phones at public high schools are in place, but they involve less restrictive measures than other states and territories, as phones only need to be off and not accessed during the day,[33] though this policy is unclear as it does not specifically outline restrictions for usage on school excursions or other non-classroom activities such as recess and lunch breaks or during drink breaks in extracurricular sport activities, for example.

Camilo Camargo, the rector at one of the schools, stated "For several months, the managers of these institutions had shown our concern because the use of cell phones was affecting the learning processes.

We noticed it, for example, after the Saber tests in which it was revealed that this impacted areas such as mathematics in students who spend more time connected to these devices" and relied on Jonathan Haidt's controversial book The Anxious Generation for advice.

Ten years later in 2017, restrictions eased, but in 2022, the Italian minister of education Giuseppe Valditara, banned cell phones from classrooms once again, this time from primary to secondary school.

[58] In December 2023, Dutch education minister Robbert Dijkgraaf imposed a ban on mobile phones, iPads and smart devices at secondary schools, which came into effect in January 2024.

Still, there have been instances of children bypassing school rules by taking bathroom breaks, submitting dummy phones and accessing text messages on school-issued devices.

Spokane High School in Washington state once installed a jammer to prevent students from calling and text-messaging but removed the device after it decided that it was "probably not legal" under federal law.

In 2012, following an undercover investigation, thirteen juvenile students in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, were arrested and charged with running a cell-phone-theft ring that resulted in the theft of several thousand dollars worth of mobile phones, tablets, and other electronics.

[97] In July 2024, Governor Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 33 (EO-33), directing the Virginia Department of Education to draft guidance for schools to create policies that enforce a cell phone-free environment.

The guidance will outline procedures for parents to contact their children regarding logistics such as forgotten items or schedule changes, as well as protocols for students with medical needs to access their devices and for emergency communications.

[101] Additionally, there are a wide variety of ways middle and high school students can use mobile phones such as sharing documents, taking pictures, and having easier access to information.