Should Schools Ban Mobile Phones?
2020-02-05
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1Mobile phones have changed the way we communicate, but people disagree on whether the devices are useful tools for education.
2Students can be easily distracted by their phones during class.
3Are they listening to the teacher or texting their friends?
4Are they taking a picture of a quiz to cheat?
5Maybe they are playing a game, or watching a video, instead of paying attention.
6School officials, teachers and parents all are trying to find out the best way to supervise students' use of mobile or cellphones.
7In the Canadian province of Ontario, officials are restricting phone use during teaching time.
8However, there are exceptions for classroom activities, health and other emergencies.
9France passed a law in 2018 banning the use of cellphones in schools for students up to age 15, the age when they go to high school.
10Last July, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law.
11It says state public and charter schools can ban students from using smartphones in class and at school.
12It does not, however, say schools are required to completely ban the devices.
13The law asks school districts, charter schools and education offices to develop cellphone policies to prevent, or limit students' use of the devices at school.
14There are exceptions, which include emergencies or issues related to health and well-being.
15One high school, in California's Silicon Valley area, had a serious problem with students and their cellphones.
16Joanne Sablich, a French teacher, said students using their phones in class had been a real problem.
17They were "checking their phones and texting-- going on social media," she said, and she would have to take the phone "over and over and over."
18The schools vice principal, Adam Gelb, said some students were spending as much as 11 or 12 hours a day on their phones.
19So, the administration turned to technology for answers.
20San Mateo High School now locks up cellphones during the day in a special container.
21Each student must put their phone away in a small bag with a magnetic lock.
22It is called a Yondr Pouch.
23At the end of the day, students unlock the bag with another device.
24The bag is being used in schools in both the United States and Europe.
25The cost for the equipment is around $20,000 a year for a school, or $12 for each student.
26Teacher Joanne Sablich is happy.
27She sees a difference in students' behavior.
28She said they are "very engaged this year," instead of just looking at their phones.
29Other schools are choosing simpler answers to the problem-they ban cellphones in classrooms.
30One of these schools is Forest Hills school district, near Grand Rapids, Michigan.
31School officials decided this school year to ban cellphones throughout the day, including at lunch.
32Dan Behm is the superintendent of the district.
33He told the publication Education Week the reason why district officials put the ban in place.
34They "wanted to provide a clean break for students and not have the frenetic energy that can happen if kids start texting each other or social-media posts start going," Behm said.
35They tried the ban last year as a test.
36Behm said they found that students said they were less anxious when they were not so attached to their devices.
37Education Week found that more than 30 schools, and in some cases school districts, have put in place some kind of restrictions during the current or last school year.
38Districts across the country also have their own versions of phone restrictions both formal or informal.
39One district choosing not to ban cellphones is Saint Marys Area School District in the state of Pennsylvania.
40Brian Toth is the superintendent of the small rural district.
41He told VOA, each teacher can decide whether, and when, to restrict students' cellphone use.
42Toth said students have grown up with cellphones, and "it is our responsibility to teach them proper use for tools within the classroom."
43He added that schools are teaching about cellphones and how to use them with social media and the Internet.
44"It is part of changing education for kids," he said.
45"As long as we teach them to use them responsibly."
46The technology is here, Toth said, schools should use it to help students, and not fear it.
47I'm Anne Ball.
48And I'm Brian Lynn.
1Mobile phones have changed the way we communicate, but people disagree on whether the devices are useful tools for education. 2Students can be easily distracted by their phones during class. 3Are they listening to the teacher or texting their friends? Are they taking a picture of a quiz to cheat? Maybe they are playing a game, or watching a video, instead of paying attention. 4School officials, teachers and parents all are trying to find out the best way to supervise students' use of mobile or cellphones. 5In the Canadian province of Ontario, officials are restricting phone use during teaching time. However, there are exceptions for classroom activities, health and other emergencies. 6France passed a law in 2018 banning the use of cellphones in schools for students up to age 15, the age when they go to high school. 7Last July, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law. It says state public and charter schools can ban students from using smartphones in class and at school. It does not, however, say schools are required to completely ban the devices. 8The law asks school districts, charter schools and education offices to develop cellphone policies to prevent, or limit students' use of the devices at school. There are exceptions, which include emergencies or issues related to health and well-being. 9One high school, in California's Silicon Valley area, had a serious problem with students and their cellphones. 10Joanne Sablich, a French teacher, said students using their phones in class had been a real problem. They were "checking their phones and texting-- going on social media," she said, and she would have to take the phone "over and over and over." 11The schools vice principal, Adam Gelb, said some students were spending as much as 11 or 12 hours a day on their phones. 12So, the administration turned to technology for answers. San Mateo High School now locks up cellphones during the day in a special container. Each student must put their phone away in a small bag with a magnetic lock. It is called a Yondr Pouch. 13At the end of the day, students unlock the bag with another device. The bag is being used in schools in both the United States and Europe. The cost for the equipment is around $20,000 a year for a school, or $12 for each student. 14Teacher Joanne Sablich is happy. She sees a difference in students' behavior. She said they are "very engaged this year," instead of just looking at their phones. 15Other schools are choosing simpler answers to the problem-they ban cellphones in classrooms. One of these schools is Forest Hills school district, near Grand Rapids, Michigan. School officials decided this school year to ban cellphones throughout the day, including at lunch. 16Dan Behm is the superintendent of the district. He told the publication Education Week the reason why district officials put the ban in place. They "wanted to provide a clean break for students and not have the frenetic energy that can happen if kids start texting each other or social-media posts start going," Behm said. 17They tried the ban last year as a test. Behm said they found that students said they were less anxious when they were not so attached to their devices. 18Education Week found that more than 30 schools, and in some cases school districts, have put in place some kind of restrictions during the current or last school year. Districts across the country also have their own versions of phone restrictions both formal or informal. 19One district choosing not to ban cellphones is Saint Marys Area School District in the state of Pennsylvania. Brian Toth is the superintendent of the small rural district. He told VOA, each teacher can decide whether, and when, to restrict students' cellphone use. 20Toth said students have grown up with cellphones, and "it is our responsibility to teach them proper use for tools within the classroom." He added that schools are teaching about cellphones and how to use them with social media and the Internet. 21"It is part of changing education for kids," he said. "As long as we teach them to use them responsibly." 22The technology is here, Toth said, schools should use it to help students, and not fear it. 23I'm Anne Ball. 24And I'm Brian Lynn. 25Anne Ball wrote this story with information from Education Week and VOA news. Mario Ritter edited it. 26Do you think schools should ban cellphones? What do you think of this story? Write to us in the comments section below. 27________________________________________________________________ 28Words in This Story 29distract - v. to cause (someone) to stop thinking about or paying attention to someone or something and to think about or pay attention to someone or something else instead 30charter school - n. a school that is established by a charter, is run by teachers, parents, etc., and uses tax money but does not have to be run according to the rules of a city or state 31district - n. an area or section of a country, city or town established by a government for official government business 32frenetic - adj. filled with excitement, activity or confusion; wild or frantic 33anxious - adj. afraid or nervous especially about what may happen: feeling anxiety 34proper - adj. correct according to social or moral rules