To regulate phone usage in the classroom, the North Carolina Senate has passed Senate Bill 55, which would ban the use of cell phones and other electronic devices in public schools during the school day. The bill aims to reduce distractions and increase focused learning. It has sparked massive debate among lawmakers, educators, parents, and students. The bill also mandates that students turn off their devices and put them in lockers, pouches, or designated areas while in class.
However, teachers would still have the right to allow phones for a specific reason, and students would be able to use them in the event of an emergency or in cases where phone access is part of a student’s education plan. Additionally, if the law is enacted, it would only apply to instructional time, meaning kids could still use phones during lunch breaks, between periods, or after classes.
Why the Bill Was Introduced
The main reason behind Bill 55 is the increasing concern that phones contribute to distractions and decrease students’ engagement and ability to lock in. Many argue that phones can significantly hinder learning, mainly because students use them to text, look at social media, or even play games rather than focus on class work.
Senator David Craven, one of the bill’s sponsors said, ¨Students today are constantly distracted by their phones… We believe this policy will create a better learning environment where students can focus on their education and not be pulled away by the constant temptation of their devices.¨ Other supporters argue that phone regulation could reduce issues like cyberbullying and cheating.
Opponents of the Bill
Many parents, students, and teachers have concerns about the negative impact the bill would have. For some parents, phones are a must for staying connected with their kids, especially in emergencies. Critics argue that banning phones could interfere with students’ ability to reach out to parents or guardians in case of unexpected changes in their schedules or emergencies. Some teachers also believe that phones can be useful in the classroom, providing access to educational apps, online resources, collaborative tools, and games such as Kahoot!
Sarah Miller, a high school teacher in Raleigh says, “We’re entering an era where technology is integrated into almost every aspect of life,… Rather than banning phones outright, we should be teaching students how to use them responsibly in an educational setting.”
Supporters of the Bill
Those in favor of the bill argue that the pros of the bill outweigh the cons. They argue that students need to learn how to engage face-to-face, a skill that is on the decline due to the constant use of phones. Advocates of the bill also argue that it could reduce the pressure that kids feel from social media and texting, maybe even improving mental health by decreasing anxiety and stress.
Since it has passed the North Carolina Senate, Senate Bill 55 now heads to the North Carolina House of Representatives to be confirmed. If the bill passes the house and is signed into law by Governor Roy Cooper it would require public schools to implement the bill in the next school year. The law would be statewide, though individual districts could adapt policies to meet certain student needs.
There are also other proposals in the NC legislature, such as House Bill 87, a similar bill that, unlike Senate Bill 55, allows individual school districts to create their policies on phone usage, which gives more flexibility for schools.
Student Effect
Phones are valuable tools used by students all across the world in schools. Taking that away will only spark outrage and cause protests. Not to mention, phones can be tools to complete work, communicate with other students, and learn more easily.
Most will agree with this statement, not just students but teachers too. Instead of looking at the bad, most can come to the agreement that we should look at the good. Many students at Green Level use their phones to take photos of notes, participate in review games such as Kahoot or Quizlet, and communicate with teachers and peers.
¨I’ll use it to message my parents in case of emergencies, look something up if I need clarification, and also play Kahoot.” Jake Kuhlman, a sophomore at Green Level, mentions.
The bill would completely ban phones from schools taking away all of these abilities from students.
While the rise of ChatGPT and AI tools has been a fear to many working in education, they tend to look at all of the bad uses instead of how they can be used for good. AI software can be utilized to draft emails to teachers, edit papers, and study. While most people see the side of AI where students are abusing it to do work for them and cheat on tests and quizzes, this is just a small side of AI.
By taking away phones, you take away one of the student’s greatest tools as well as their emergency outlet. The bill would completely take away phones which would make them useless to students in emergencies. This is a serious issue as schools don’t have the resources to be responsible for every student emergency or be able to contact parents or guardians.
The positives of phone usage severely outweigh the negatives, and as this bill continues to move through the government and aims to limit distractions, it will end up causing mass outrage and frustration.
