Cell Phone Ban in Schools: A Statewide Expansion in Texas?

Cell phone bans that launched in some North Texas schools in recent years may be expanded statewide.

Texas House members on Tuesday debated whether to prohibit students from having their phones out during class time.

“We want our kids to focus on academics such as math, science and reading,” Rep. Caroline Fairly, R-Amarillo, said. “And the reality is, these phones, they’re a distraction.”

The Problem with Cell Phones in Schools

The constant use of phones is contributing to a mental health crisis and triggering classroom management problems, Fairly, the Gen Z author of the bill, told colleagues during a committee hearing.

“I remember trying to sneak my phone into the high school classroom,” the 26-year-old lawmaker told her colleagues. “I remember school teachers trying to figure out which phone was buzzing and ringing, and it being a distraction in the classroom.”

Educators are concerned about the ways cellphones distract from learning, exacerbate bullying and aid in the spread of false alarms about school safety.

Existing Policies and Proposals

Nine states have passed statewide policies that ban or restrict cellphone use in public schools as of earlier this month, according to a KFF analysis.

Fairly’s proposal allows for local control, with public school district leaders deciding on the details of their individual policies.

Some campuses have already piloted their own bans.

Lake Highlands High School in Richardson ISD is in its second year of requiring students to store phones in pouches that are magnetically sealed at the start of the day and unlocked by special devices at dismissal. RISD is paying roughly $300,000 to use the pouches at eight secondary campuses.

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Student and Educator Perspectives

“Of course, no kid wants their phone taken,” Lake Highlands senior Adara McBeth previously told The Dallas Morning News. But she conceded that since the pouches came to campus, she’s more focused on assignments than notifications.

“It’s been very effective,” she said.

Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath has endorsed such policies.

Implementation and Concerns

While lawmakers expressed bipartisan support during Tuesday’s hearing, they raised questions of implementation: Who would pay for cell phone storage devices? How would students be disciplined if they broke the rules? What would happen during an active shooter incident?

“I’m just thinking about the Uvalde case, and it was the children who made the calls,” Rep. Alma Allen, D-Houston said, referencing the students who dialed 911 to beg for help during the mass shooting at Robb Elementary.

Lawmakers will continue to work on tweaks to the bill language.

Conclusion

The proposal to ban cell phones in Texas schools has sparked a heated debate among educators, lawmakers, and students. While some argue that phones are a distraction and a hindrance to learning, others believe that they can be a useful tool in the classroom. As the bill moves forward, it is essential to consider the concerns and perspectives of all parties involved.

FAQs

Q: What is the proposed bill about?

A: The proposed bill aims to prohibit students from having their phones out during class time in Texas schools.

Q: Why are lawmakers considering this bill?

A: Lawmakers are considering this bill because they believe that cell phones are a distraction and a hindrance to learning, and that they contribute to a mental health crisis and classroom management problems.

Q: How would the ban be implemented?

A: The ban would be implemented by requiring students to store their phones in pouches or other storage devices during class time. The details of the policy would be decided by local school district leaders.

Q: What are the concerns about the bill?

A: Some concerns about the bill include who would pay for cell phone storage devices, how students would be disciplined if they broke the rules, and what would happen during an active shooter incident.

The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas.

The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative, with support from Bobby and Lottye Lyle, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Garrett and Cecilia Boone, Judy and Jim Gibbs, The Meadows Foundation, The Murrell Foundation, Ron and Phyllis Steinhart, Solutions Journalism, Network, Southern Methodist University, Sydney Smith Hicks, and the University of Texas at Dallas. The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control of the Education Lab’s journalism.