Should students have access to their phones during school hours? This has been a much-debated question for years, and the state of Indiana has recently decided to enact a law regarding cell phones and schools.
On Monday, March 11th, a bill was passed that prohibits the use of all portable wireless devices during instructional hours. The law is set to go into effect in July of this year and Mount Vernon is expected to follow it for the 2024-2025 school year. The details of how phones will be controlled by the school is not known yet, but a resurgence of the phone pockets in classrooms, seems like it may be part of the solution.
This law, like most of its kind, does have exceptions that will need to be followed. If a student needs a portable device such as a blood sugar monitor for medical reasons then that will not be taken from them. If a student needs their phone for an emergency then that will be permitted, however, the specifics of what is considered an emergency are not detailed. Students will be allowed to use their cellphones during non-instructional times such as lunch.
The only other legal reason that students can be on their cell phones is if it is required or allowed through the class they are in. A good example of this is the use of cell phones in photography class. Many students do not have access to digital cameras, so their cell phone may be their only option.. As long as the teacher is aware of the cell phone use and allows it, then students will be able to access their cell phones during class. However, their cell phone use should only pertain to what is relevant to the class.
The idea of adopting a ban on the use of cell phones during class is to help diminish the amount of time the average teenager spends on their cell phone a day. Mt. Vernon teachers had a lot to say about the new law.
¨I think it is a good idea and cell phones are a huge distraction. I think it is going to have to be the administration putting rules in place for it to really work,¨ said Mr. Gordon.
¨I think Mt. Vernon policy already follows what the state wants to do,¨ said Mrs. Zelencik. ¨It’s just a matter of whether teachers consistently enforce it or not.¨
Mr. Gordon and Mrs. Zelencik both expressed concern about how their students are not motivated to get their work done due to the distraction of their devices. This law against cell phones is supported by educational organizations around the state, including the Indiana State Teachers Association, the American Federation of Teachers, the Indiana School Boards Association and the Indiana Association of School Principals.
On the opposite side of things, students have given their opinions about the new law. Zayn Harris said this after hearing about the law for the first time. ¨ I hate it,¨ junior Harris said, ¨It feels like it’s taking away my personal rights.¨
Alonah Savage also had an opinion of the new law that is taking effect when she is a Junior. ¨I think it’s not right to have our valuables taken away because what if there is an emergency at home and we can’t connect to our parents without them.¨
While the bill saw little opposition from teachers and administration, the chance of a rise in students being punished at school for breaking the new rule may occur. The other main concern is from parents who worry about the loss of contact with their children while they are at school. Parents on a Facebook parent page expressed concern about not being able to warn their children of emergencies or vice versa.
The idea of limiting the use of cell phones at school is nothing new, but has been left up to each individual school to decide, and the state stepping in and deciding for every school within its borders is new.
According to Mrs. Glaze, not much will change at Mt. Vernon due to the handbook already including rules which reflect the new law.