Attention Class Video
Screens Down. Focus Up.
Cell phones in school classrooms are, at minimum, a distraction and takes the student’s focus off of what’s being taught. Oklahoma public education needs quality time in class and cell phone use absolutely takes away some of that. Here’s some interesting information about cell phones in class and why OKEII would like to see them banned from classrooms.
The nature of the cellphone ban illustrated above also varies. For example, there are outright bans and bans on non-academic uses. Data from the US Department of Education indicate that nationally 43% of high schools prohibit cellphones for non-academic use while about three-quarters of elementary and middle schools do so.
The Advantages of Banning Cellphone Use in Oklahoma Classrooms*
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In the statewide Oklahoma Education Poll** fielded in the Spring of 2024, respondents were asked about banning cellphones in classrooms. Most respondents (60%) wished to ban students from using their cellphones in class. This opinion is shared by both parents (56%) and non-parents (57%).
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Cell phones are a distraction. Students can get off track if focused on phones instead of paying attention.
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Social media. Excessive use can lead to cyberbullying, lower self-esteem and privacy issues.
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Cheating/plagiarizing work; this goes against school policies and can harm their own learning.
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Health concerns are real, such as eye strain and poor sleep.
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Misinformation can be spread during emergencies, causing panic.
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Legal risks exist if students misuse their phones or if privacy issues arise in the classroom.
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Addiction*** is also a real concern: Cellphone use can become addictive, leading to dependency and potential negative impacts on academic performance and well-being.
Jonathan Haidt is a prominent scholar on the growing mental health issues among today’s young people. He has four norms for cell phone use. They are:
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No smartphones before high school.
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No social media before age 16.
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Phone-free schools. Keep phones locked away during the school day.
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More independence, play and responsibility in the real world. Give kids more free play and recess.
What you can do to help improve public education in Oklahoma!
The OKEII supports HB1276, authored by Representative Chad Caldwell (R. Enid), which would require district policies prohibiting student cell phones and smartwatch use under certain circumstances and with exceptions for emergencies. It would also allow for local implementation of the ban.
An Act relating to schools; requiring district boards of education to adopt a policy prohibiting student cell phone and smartwatch use under certain circumstances; requiring exceptions for emergencies; allowing board approval to opt out; requiring annual approval of opt out policies; defining terms; providing for codification; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.
OKEII also supports HB1277, also authored by Chad Caldwell (R. Enid), which would direct the State Board of Education to distribute grants to incentivize phone free spaces in schools.
An Act relating to schools; directing the State Board of Education to distribute grants to incentivize phone-free spaces; providing application process; prescribing selection of grant recipients; providing for use of grant funds; authorizing certain negotiations and contract; providing for codification; and declaring an emergency.
OKEII also supports SB139 authored by Senator Ally Siefried (R. Claremore). SB139 is an Act relating to schools; requiring school district boards of education to adopt a policy prohibiting use of cell phones while on campus during certain time period; defining term; directing policy to contain disciplinary procedures; allowing policy to include certain exceptions; directing the State Department of Education to establish certain grant program; directing certain amount to be made available in grants, subject to availability of funding; prescribing use of grant funds; directing grant applications to be submitted on certain form; providing for contents of application; directing grants to be awarded on certain basis; allowing the State Board of Education, in certain conjunction, to issue a request for proposals and enter into certain contract; providing for codification; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.
It's up to us to make a difference.
Let your state representatives know you support these key pieces of legislation.
Find your representatives here: https://www.okhouse.gov/representatives
Citations
*Cell Phones in the Classroom: Should it be allowed?
Graduate Programs for Educators
Dr. Benjamin Washington
Project Director for 21st Century Community Learning Centers; Ed.D. Educational Leadership
Hamlin, D. (2024). Results from the 2024 Oklahoma Education Poll. Oklahoma Education Journal, 2(3), 32–40. A representative sample of Oklahoma citizens were polled, as well as all K-12 public school educators and school districts superintendents statewide. The surveys yielded statistically significant data from all groups and producing a margin-of-error of only 3% at a 95% confidence level.
*** Journal of Behavioral Addictions
Volume 7, Issue 2
Social implications of children’s smartphone addiction: The role of support networks and social engagement
Jennifer Ihm
**** The Anxious Generation: How the great rewiring of childhood is causing an epidemic of mental illness
Johnathan Haidt, 2024
Penguin Press, NY, NY