speech on should mobile phones be allowed in school

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Bans may help protect classroom focus, but districts need to stay mindful of students’ sense of connection, experts say

Students around the world are being separated from their phones.

In 2020, the National Center for Education Statistics reported that 77 percent of U.S. schools had moved to prohibit cellphones for nonacademic purposes. In September 2018, French lawmakers outlawed cellphone use for schoolchildren under the age of 15. In China, phones were banned country-wide for schoolchildren last year.

Supporters of these initiatives have cited links between smartphone use and bullying and social isolation and the need to keep students focused on schoolwork.

77% Of U.S. schools moved to ban cellphones for nonacademic purposes as of 2020, according to the National Center for Education Statistics

But some Harvard experts say instructors and administrators should consider learning how to teach with tech instead of against it, in part because so many students are still coping with academic and social disruptions caused by the pandemic. At home, many young people were free to choose how and when to use their phones during learning hours. Now, they face a school environment seeking to take away their main source of connection.

“Returning back to in-person, I think it was hard to break the habit,” said Victor Pereira, a lecturer on education and co-chair of the Teaching and Teaching Leadership Program at the Graduate School of Education.

Through their students, he and others with experience both in the classroom and in clinical settings have seen interactions with technology blossom into important social connections that defy a one-size-fits-all mindset. “Schools have been coming back, trying to figure out, how do we readjust our expectations?” Pereira added.

It’s a hard question, especially in the face of research suggesting that the mere presence of a smartphone can undercut learning .

Michael Rich , an associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and an associate professor of social and behavioral sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, says that phones and school don’t mix: Students can’t meaningfully absorb information while also texting, scrolling, or watching YouTube videos.

“The human brain is incapable of thinking more than one thing at a time,” he said. “And so what we think of as multitasking is actually rapid-switch-tasking. And the problem with that is that switch-tasking may cover a lot of ground in terms of different subjects, but it doesn’t go deeply into any of them.”

Pereira’s approach is to step back — and to ask whether a student who can’t resist the phone is a signal that the teacher needs to work harder on making a connection. “Two things I try to share with my new teachers are, one, why is that student on the phone? What’s triggering getting on your cell phone versus jumping into our class discussion, or whatever it may be? And then that leads to the second part, which is essentially classroom management.

“Design better learning activities, design learning activities where you consider how all of your students might want to engage and what their interests are,” he said. He added that allowing phones to be accessible can enrich lessons and provide opportunities to use technology for school-related purposes.

Mesfin Awoke Bekalu, a research scientist in the Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness at the Chan School, argues that more flexible classroom policies can create opportunities for teaching tech-literacy and self-regulation.

“There is a huge, growing body of literature showing that social media platforms are particularly helpful for people who need resources or who need support of some kind, beyond their proximate environment,” he said. A study he co-authored by Rachel McCloud and Vish Viswanath for the Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness shows that this is especially true for marginalized groups such as students of color and LGBTQ students. But the findings do not support a free-rein policy, Bekalu stressed.

In the end, Rich, who noted the particular challenges faced by his patients with attention-deficit disorders and other neurological conditions, favors a classroom-by-classroom strategy. “It can be managed in a very local way,” he said, adding: “It’s important for parents, teachers, and the kids to remember what they are doing at any point in time and focus on that. It’s really only in mono-tasking that we do very well at things.”

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Why Cell Phones Should Be Allowed in Schools — 11 Reasons Based on 16 Research Studies

However, I think that cell phones can play a very beneficial role in a classroom, especially when used effectively. I’ve stretched the ‘rules’ in the past and let my students pull out their phones for various classroom lessons and activities, and I’m definitely glad I did!

If we don’t let kids use cell phones in the classroom, how will they ever learn to use them responsibly in a workplace? Every adult I know uses their phone all day every day. Let’s prepare kids for the real world. — Matthew B. Courtney, Ed.D. (@mbcourtneyedd) August 7, 2022

You can watch this video below. It contains a brief retelling of the article.

Cell Phones in School — Teachers’ Thoughts

Many teachers and parents are on the fence about whether to let students have cell phones in school . More and more teachers are beginning to see the potential learning benefits mobile phones can offer to their students and are advocating for gadget use in the classroom. In this video, Sam from New EdTech Classroom Why we should allow students to use cell phones in schools.

Below are what some teachers have shared about using mobile phones in the classroom:

”We need to embrace these changes and instead of trying to separate that reality from an outdated vision of a classroom, we need to find a way to optimize the educational experience for the connected kids of the future. We can’t disconnect them from the world between the hours of 8am – 3pm everyday. Don’t be scared. You have to leave your comfort zone and take a risk. The same thing you ask your students to do. Take a risk and see what the future may look like and then change your teaching to ensure that the technology is used as a tool and not just a distraction.” —Tim Floyd, Education Awesomeness

“I’ve also seen the value that cell phones can bring to education. Students who might not have access to computers at home can type and submit essays on their phones. Students can quickly look up some information and verify its validity. Furthermore, students can also use their cell phones to collaborate with their peers.” —Christina, The Darling English Teacher

“When students have access to technology and social media, they have access to empowerment and leadership online. As educators, we need to empower our students to use technology for good. When students are given the chance to use their cellphones in class as a learning tool, we can teach them how to positively influence and impact other people online.” —Amanda, EDTech Endeavors

“When students have access to technology and social media, they have access to empowerment and leadership online. As educators, we need to empower our students to use technology for good. When students are given the chance to use their cellphones in class as a learning tool, we can teach them how to positively influence and impact other people online.” — A.J. Juliani , the Director of Technology & Innovation for Centennial School District

Why Should Phones be Allowed in School — 11 Reasons

There is a lot of debate about whether phones should be allowed in schools. While there are some cons to letting your students use cell phones in class, I feel that the benefits of using gadgets can outweigh these cons. As long as you have solid classroom management and set clear expectations for students using their mobile phones, I think you’ll find that there are many benefits  to letting your students use them.

1. Providing an Additional Tool for Learning

Phones are already banned. The parents are worried about these bans because of the very high chance there is a school shooting and their child is unable to call for help. https://t.co/TxpJfrUgJn — Anosognosiogenesis (@pookleblinky) June 6, 2023

While detractors may argue against the distractions phones might pose academically, the security and peace of mind they offer, especially in dire situations, make a compelling case for their presence in the school environment.

3. Improved Communication

Interestingly, a study from the School of Business highlighted another crucial dimension to this trend. Beyond the teacher-student dynamic, students are proactively forming educational bonds with their peers through their phones. They often initiate and manage class-based groups on various social platforms, allowing for an organized exchange of study materials and collaborative learning, devoid of any official oversight. Such initiatives underscore the instrumental role cell phones play in modern education, fostering a holistic and communal approach to learning.

4. Organization

5. can save schools money.

In conclusion, embracing the capabilities of cell phones in the academic realm presents a win-win scenario. It offers students the convenience and immediacy of digital access while allowing educational institutions to optimize resources, reduce costs, and promote sustainability.

6. Good for the Environment

7. prepares students for the future, 8. can create digitally responsible citizens, 9. can help students when studying.

“In my classes, I let students take pictures of the digital whiteboard, too. If an assignment description or important PowerPoint slide has been up long enough and I am ready to move on, before doing so, I invite kids to snap a picture. This allows them to refer back to the slide at home if necessary.” — Chad Donohue , National Education Association

10. Accessibility and Personalized Learning

11. boosts creativity and innovation, 7 ideas how cell phones can be used effectively in the classroom, 1. scanning qr codes, 2. using educational apps, 3. collaborating on assignment, 4. completing surveys and quizzes, 5. providing feedback to others, 6. augmented reality experiences, 7. recording and editing multimedia projects, digital etiquette for students in the classroom.

Put your phone down when someone is talking to you and make eye contact with the speaker. Don’t text while you are walking. Be aware of your surroundings and don’t get distracted from someone or something important. Silence your phone when you are in class. Remove your headphones if someone is trying to talk to you. Don’t post on social media during the school day. Be a good digital citizen and avoid getting into any digital drama. Know the cell phone policy for each of your teachers, and respect it when in their classroom. Don’t make your teacher, classmates, friends, or family secondary to your phone.

Useful Resources

Final thoughts.

My principal seems to have an old-school thought process about cell phones in school and has completely banned them from being out in the classroom. I’d like to let my students use them for instructional purposes. Any tips on how to change her thinking?

That is tough. I’d start by finding some other teachers in your building that share your opinion and come up with a plan to present to your principal together. Bringing data, like what I shared in the article, about how cell phones can benefit students in class could help you make your point.

I love the artice and am using it for an assingment if you see it your name or website will be on it.

Thanks for the article it is truly an elaborate article, thanks for sharing it.

yes, this is fab

my teacher does not allow phones

my whole state banned phones in class TvT

I feel like you should be able to use your phone at passing periods and breaks and also lunch.

this is a common question people ask me I 57 year old male once allowed my kids to have phones in class but one pranked called the police so I say no

This is a nice source for my citation C: Thank you.

I am writing a speech to present to my class to persuade the teachers to allow more phone usage in class, thank you for your point of view and the information.

You’re welcome!

thanks so much! this will help a lot with a project I’m doing

I am making a debate speech this is really helpful thank you!

I was not born with this new technology, cell phone, I had to learn it. Now, I am a teacher and honestly, it is great as a tool for students to use but it’s also a deterrent. Like my wife says, “You give a mouse a cookie and they will ask you for a glass of milk”. Students seem to confuse rights with privilege. My students honestly believe that they have the right to use a phone whenever they want, this includes during a class, versus asking permission. Unfortunately, others do not use it appropriately. I have no problems with the use of cell phones, as long as it is for academic achievement, but not as a school alternative (ignore teacher and ignore daily task).

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us! We completely agree about the inappropriate use of phones.

thank you! so much i don’t know what i would do without this information!

Thank you for this essay

The essay has good information but I want more. You are telling me about the technology benefits but that’s what the Chromebooks are for. So if you could give me a stronger argument I would definitely agree.

Thanks for letting us know. We will take your wishes into consideration

Students can not handle these devices!!!!

Thank you for sharing your opinion. I still believe there are many ways to get students’ attention in the classroom rather than on the phone.

I always enjoy the creative ways technology can be used in schools. The mix of video talks, blog ideas and teacher input this post are great ways to share ideas. Thanks for the modern takes on how to use phones in the classroom, it is refreshing!

My pleasure!

I NEED THIS FOR MY ESSAY. THANK YOU!

I believe that cell phones in schools should be friends not enemys

thank you so much

We need our phones for SAFETY ?

This was very cool and so many good reasons why we should be able to use our phones in class!

This was very helpful imformation

I appreciate this article it is so supportive and believes in this article thanks ✌

four big guys is crazy lol four big guys and they grab on my thighs

i agree they should allow phones in school but just when were are really stuck or bored. so that is why i think that.

Hey! Thank you! I needed this for my ELA class argumentative writing prompt, this information was very useful. Since my school has a no phone-in-class rule, I can’t even have it with me in my bag! The only time I have on it during weekdays is at home and on the bus. But anyways this information was essential for my project. Thank you! 😀

You’re welcome!?

This is so helpful for argumentative essays! Thank you!

Thay can be good use for kids that walk home from school or to school or both.

In many school districts, the students borrow laptops, so they don’t need cell phones. Teachers may use software to restrict the laptops to their selected educational websites. Cell phones have disrupted learning, so they must be banned or jammed in the classroom. However, when students aren’t distracted by cell phones, they will gradually become worse at running around, yelling, and fighting, like they did before their cell phone addictions. We need consistent discipline. Disruptive students should learn with fun programs on a computer in separate rooms, instead of infecting other students with bad attitudes. After a year of learning on a computer, they can try the classroom again. We also need online video in the classrooms, so everyone, especially parents, can see the discipline problems in schools. When white schools have strict discipline and cell phone bans, but minority schools don’t, which students will get the high-paying better jobs? This is racism.

I agree with this as a student! But unfurtently my school is very old school so they banned cellphones.

Thank you for this helped me with a essay im doing for school. 🙂

i agree so much?

thank you for the info cause i have been having trouble finding an article like that and i found one so thank you!?

I forgot to put that i’m having a debate about using cell phones in class.

Im a current high school student and honestly what I’ve seen is the exact opposite of this. first period English is just a majority of people being on their phones. Unless a teacher is very strict about phones usually nothing is done about it. Honestly my parents disallowing me to bring my phone to school is what changed my grades for the better for the rest of the school year up until now. Also, some students might argue for these points but it’s usually only used as a scapegoat to make the excuse of “Oh but this article says it’s good to use phones!” Still, I’ve seen phones do so much more negatives than positives as well as the points listed here barely ever being utilized.

Yes i think they should allow it for many reasons

Coming in from Parker Middle School so I am doing a essay on why we should be able to have phones in schools and even class rooms and I was wondering if you could have your word to support having cell phones in school.

phones are what brought you into this world be thankful

I love the way you used cell phones in the classroom. Me personally-I use mine for extracurriculars.

As a High School teacher, I pretty much dislike the use of cellphones. If used for emergency, yes that’s a legitimate argument and in such case, cell phones need to be accessible to students in case of an emergency. However that would be the only reason cellphones should be allowed in classrooms. I studied high school without a cellphone and I was able to be engaged, organized and learned by using other technologies. This article doesn’t mention the pros and cons of allowing cellphones in classrooms and does not consider if the benefits weigh more than the disadvantages.

Thank you this website is amazing hope I get an A+ for my argumentative essay. Wish Me Luck!

Thanks I will use this for my topic

As a teacher at my school, I can say the cell phones are 99% more a distraction than ever as a learning tool. All the kids on the phones during class is to play video games. and look at non educational sites so that’s why cell phones are banned in my classrooms. I would say if the kids understood accountability and are responsible, then it’s a different discussion.

i can use this for my project . Almost all my classmates try to sneak there phone in class . But they always get in trouble . They don’t need a phone becuase it is can make you fail class and other things that is a proably

Very valid points. I am using you as a source for my essay. Thank you.

Thanks this helped me with my Delve Project

Hi, my name is Eli and I am an 8th grader at Indianola Middle School in Iowa. I am doing a research project about a topic of my choice and I chose to research Should phones be allowed in class. I think you would be a great person to give me more information about this topic because you gave great points and reasons why phones should be allowed in school classrooms.

Thank you so much for this article, Love your work!!!

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What Students Are Saying About School Cellphone Bans

Policies restricting phone use in schools are trending. We asked students if they thought such rules were a good idea.

By The Learning Network

Nearly one in four countries has laws or policies banning or restricting student cellphone use in schools . Proponents say no-phone rules reduce student distractions and bullying. Critics say the bans could hinder student self-direction and critical thinking.

We asked teenagers what they thought: Should schools ban cellphones?

The reactions were mixed. Many students brought up the same reasons they wanted access to their phones during the day: to listen to music, to contact their parents and even for schoolwork. But many recognized the need for some boundaries around phone use, with several supporting an outright ban. Read their arguments below.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the conversation on our writing prompts this week, including students from Midtown High School in Atlanta ; Parkway South High School in Manchester, Mo. ; and Miami Country Day School in Miami, Fla .

Please note: Student comments have been lightly edited for length, but otherwise appear as they were originally submitted.

No phones in school? We’re all for it, some students said.

Recently, I stopped bringing my phone to school. I only had an Apple Watch to listen to music and message my family. This change has allowed me to focus more during my classes and I’ve come up with more creative ideas due to this change. To put it simply, while the banning of cellphones may take some time to fully get used to, it’s a necessity for all schools in order for their students to concentrate and participate more quickly. One of the main problems with cellphone usage in class is that students aren’t talking with one another. Instead, everyone is talking AT each other, because they’re always on their phones messaging or checking social media. With the banning of phones however, students can engage with one another without the use of technology, which can be described as “authentic,” or more personal.

— Leo, Midtown High School

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Cellphones in Schools: Addiction, Distraction, or Teaching Tool?

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“Cellphones are here to stay. More and more work is being done on these communication devices, as they morph into BlackBerries, hand-held calculators, phone banks, digital cameras, radios, and even televisions.”

So warned education professor Bruce S. Cooper and former superintendent John W. Lee as they weighed the place of cellphones in schools —back in 2006.

That was the year that an unevenly enforced 1988 ban on mobile devices in New York City schools sprang back into the public consciousness with a new crackdown . That policy was later dropped in 2015, but it seems everything old is new again. The current New York governor, Kathy Hochul, is now publicly considering a similar statewide ban, as are California Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers in more than half a dozen other states. Several states, including Floridia, Indiana, and Ohio, already passed statewide prohibitions on school cellphone use in the past several years.

Cellphone technology has certainly evolved as predicted over the last few decades (well, mostly; R.I.P. to the now discontinued BlackBerry), but what about the debate over their use in schools?

The popularity of phone bans has yo-yoed in the years since, from a high of 91 percent of public schools prohibiting nonacademic use of cellphones in the 2009-10 school year (the first year the National Center for Education Statistics began tracking such data). That number dipped as low as 66 percent in 2015-16 but has since rebounded to 76 percent in 2021-22 , the latest year data are available.

Back in 2006, one fault line was already emerging between educators concerned about cellphone misuse in class and parents concerned about not being able to communicate with their children.

“Given the potential for abuse, a ban sounds logical,” wrote Cooper and Lee in their 2006 essay. “Yet, in today’s society, cellphones also serve as modern-day umbilical cords, able to link children with their increasingly busy (and worried) parents and guardians.”

If that sounds familiar, it might be because you read reporting just last month from EdWeek Staff Writer Elizabeth Heubeck documenting “ When Schools Want to Ban Cellphones—But Parents Stand in the Way .”

Of course, the debate over cellphones in school has never been as clear-cut as educators vs. parents. Dig deeper into Edweek’s Opinion advice and you’ll find countless educators taking a pro-cellphone line—at least when used responsibly.

Middle school administrator Matt Levinson saw a fork in the road ahead of teachers in a 2009 Opinion essay : “They can continue to fight a losing battle and draw harsh lines in the sand, confiscating cellphones or banning their use during school hours. Or, they can seize the teachable moment, and shift their approaches to embrace technology and engage students with these devices.”

The following year, middle school teacher Paul Barnwell reached a similar conclusion , advising readers that not only can cellphones be put to productive use in the classroom, but that failing to do so may actually be doing students a disservice. How else, he asked, can schools prepare students for the “real world”? (And if that sounds familiar, it might be because you’ve been reading modern arguments over the place of AI in schools.)

But for teachers in schools without a clear cellphone policy, finding those academic applications for smartphones amid the TikTok distractions is no easy task. You could try five tips from high school teacher Curtis White on “ Harnessing the Power of the Cellphone in Class .” Or perhaps check out education consultant Matthew Lynch’s three strict rules for classroom cellphone use .

More recently, a slew of educators shared their own strategies for curbing cellphone misuse, in response to Opinion blogger Larry Ferlazzo’s call for teacher contributions:

• Classroom Cellphone Use Is Fraught. It Doesn’t Have to Be
• Should Cellphones Be Permitted in Classrooms? Teachers Offer These Strategies
• Let’s Not Oversimplify Students’ Cellphone Use

In the past few years, several education researchers have also shared best practices on cellphone use in psychologist Angela Duckworth’s Ask a Psychologist opinion blog. Drawing on his bumpy experiences trying to set boundaries on his own 11-year-old daughter’s smartphone use, education researcher Tom Harrison offered “ 4 Strategies to Help Students Manage Cellphone Use in School .”

In another post, Duckworth reminded readers of some basic self-control tricks to help kids resist the siren song of screen time .

Psychology professor Jean M. Twenge, who dug through data from 11,000 teens to conclude that “not all screen time is created equal,” laid down some do’s and don’ts for cellphone access in the blog.

But not everyone is optimistic on finding a middle ground between endless distraction and productive learning tool. In a widely read 2016 Opinion essay , teacher Steve Gardiner had another word for his students’ relationships to their phones: addiction.

“Addiction is a strong word, but it accurately describes the dysfunctional behavior exhibited by teenagers in my high school English classroom when I ask them to put away their cellphones,” he wrote. Gardiner wasn’t calling for a blanket ban on phones—indeed, he identified some legitimate academic uses of the technology—but rather sounding the alarm on the “obsessive and dependent behavior” undergirding student cellphone misuse.

“We have incentives to promote attendance and graduation,” he concluded, “but many teenagers need help, because their bodies are in the classroom, but their minds are inside their cellphones.”

For some teachers, that cellphone dependency has gotten bad enough to sour them on the profession entirely. That’s the story of high school biology teacher Mitchell Rutherford, who decided to quit teaching in part because of the exhaustion he felt from competing with cellphones for students’ attention.

“I wasn’t emotionally available for myself or my wife,” he told Education Week earlier this month , “because I was pouring my heart into my students that I saw struggling with socializing, anxiety, and focus, which in my opinion is largely caused and certainly exacerbated by intentionally designed addictive cellphone apps.”

Cellphones in Schools

Explore our coverage around students’ use of cellphones in schools: > Guide to setting a policy: Here’s a decisionmaking tool for educators to map out the different potential outcomes when putting cellphone policies in play. > Cellphone bans and restrictions: See which states are requiring cellphone restrictions or bans in schools in our tracker. Explore our tracker . > Nuisance or teaching tool? How teachers are turning an ubiquitous and growing class nuisance—the smartphone—into a tool for learning . > Cellphone policies, explained: Education Week breaks down the different ways schools are addressing cellphone use, and the factors to weigh before adopting or changing the rules. Check out our explainer . > Tips from teens & teachers: Teenagers offer 6 tips on how schools should manage students’ cellphone use, and educators share their tips on policing cellphone use in classrooms. > Then & now: How the “sexting” panic previewed today’s debate about kids’ cellphone use .

Complete coverage on cellphones in schools >

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March 14, 2023

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

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Experts see pros and cons to allowing cellphones in class

by Anna Lamb, Harvard Gazette

Students around the world are being separated from their phones.

In 2020, the National Center for Education Statistics reported that 77 percent of U.S. schools had moved to prohibit cellphones for nonacademic purposes. In September 2018, French lawmakers outlawed cellphone use for schoolchildren under the age of 15. In China, phones were banned country-wide for schoolchildren last year.

Supporters of these initiatives have cited links between smartphone use and bullying and social isolation and the need to keep students focused on schoolwork.

But some Harvard experts say instructors and administrators should consider learning how to teach with tech instead of against it, in part because so many students are still coping with academic and social disruptions caused by the pandemic. At home, many young people were free to choose how and when to use their phones during learning hours. Now, they face a school environment seeking to take away their main source of connection.

"Returning back to in-person, I think it was hard to break the habit," said Victor Pereira, a lecturer on education and co-chair of the Teaching and Teaching Leadership Program at the Graduate School of Education.

Through their students, he and others with experience both in the classroom and in clinical settings have seen interactions with technology blossom into important social connections that defy a one-size-fits-all mindset. "Schools have been coming back, trying to figure out, how do we readjust our expectations?" Pereira added.

It's a hard question, especially in the face of research suggesting that the mere presence of a smartphone can undercut learning.

Michael Rich, an associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and an associate professor of social and behavioral sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, says that phones and school don't mix: Students can't meaningfully absorb information while also texting, scrolling, or watching YouTube videos.

"The human brain is incapable of thinking more than one thing at a time," he said. "And so what we think of as multitasking is actually rapid-switch-tasking. And the problem with that is that switch-tasking may cover a lot of ground in terms of different subjects, but it doesn't go deeply into any of them."

Pereira's approach is to step back—and to ask whether a student who can't resist the phone is a signal that the teacher needs to work harder on making a connection. "Two things I try to share with my new teachers are, one, why is that student on the phone? What's triggering getting on your cell phone versus jumping into our class discussion, or whatever it may be? And then that leads to the second part, which is essentially classroom management.

"Design better learning activities, design learning activities where you consider how all of your students might want to engage and what their interests are," he said. He added that allowing phones to be accessible can enrich lessons and provide opportunities to use technology for school-related purposes.

Mesfin Awoke Bekalu, a research scientist in the Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness at the Chan School, argues that more flexible classroom policies can create opportunities for teaching tech-literacy and self-regulation.

"There is a huge, growing body of literature showing that social media platforms are particularly helpful for people who need resources or who need support of some kind, beyond their proximate environment," he said. A study he co-authored by Rachel McCloud and Vish Viswanath for the Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness shows that this is especially true for marginalized groups such as students of color and LGBTQ students. But the findings do not support a free-rein policy, Bekalu stressed.

In the end, Rich, who noted the particular challenges faced by his patients with attention-deficit disorders and other neurological conditions, favors a classroom-by-classroom strategy. "It can be managed in a very local way," he said, adding: "It's important for parents, teachers, and the kids to remember what they are doing at any point in time and focus on that. It's really only in mono-tasking that we do very well at things."

Provided by Harvard Gazette

This story is published courtesy of the Harvard Gazette , Harvard University's official newspaper. For additional university news, visit Harvard.edu .

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Common Core: RH.6-8.1, RH.6-8.2, RH.6-8.4, RH.6-8.6, RH.6-8.8, WHST.6-8.1, WHST.6-8.5, RI.6-8.1, RI.6-8.2, RI.6-8.4, RI.6-8.6, RI.6-8.8, RI.6-8.10, W.6-8.1, W.6-8.5, SL.6-8.1

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Should cell phones be allowed at school, phones can help with classwork, but they can also distract students from learning. what’s the right call for dealing with the devices.

Schools around the country are starting to send tough messages when it comes to students’ cell phones. A high school in Crawford County, Missouri, for instance, banned all cell phones and smartwatches last spring. And a middle school in Torrington, Connecticut, recently set a policy requiring that every phone be locked in a special pouch during school hours.

Such policies serve a purpose. Many teachers and administrators say students misuse their phones during classes, such as by texting, posting on social media, or cheating on tests. Even sneaking quick peeks at a device during class can derail a student’s focus from a lesson, educators point out.

School bans on cell phones, however, are often met with objections. Many students argue that the devices help them stay organized in class and let them reach their families in case of emergencies. And some teachers say that phones, when used properly, can make lessons more interactive and fun.

Consider the pros and cons of students having access to phones during the school day. Then decide for yourself.

Helpful Technology

Phones can be fun, but that’s not the main reason students want access to them at school. The multipurpose gadgets serve as calculator, dictionary, clock, fact-checker, note-taker, and schedule-maker all rolled into one.

Emma Ceglia, a middle school student from Granby, Connecticut, says she and her classmates should be able to take advantage of those and other useful features in class—even for something as basic as checking the time. “You can’t see a clock from where we sit,” she says.

Phones help students stay organized during the school day. 

The devices can also get students interested in classwork, some teachers say. Stevie Frank, a middle school teacher in Whitestown, Indiana, creates short videos that students can view on their phones for extra help during some class assignments.

“Kids speak the language of cell phones, the language of technology,” Frank explains. “We need to figure out ways of meeting them where they’re at.”

Access to phones is also a matter of safety, says middle school student Jackson Gupta. This past spring, his school in Plano, Texas, went into lockdown after reports of a potentially dangerous situation. It turned out to be a false alarm, but the scare showed him the importance of kids and parents being able to reach each other in emergencies.

Phones by the Numbers

69%:  percentage of u.s. kids who have their own smartphone by age 12, 344: number of times a day, on average, americans check their phones (once every 4 minutes).

SOURCES: Common Sense Media (69%); Reviews.org (344)

Flashy Distractions

Still, there are definite downsides to having phones at school, Jackson admits. “Like kids cheating or playing games or losing focus in class,” he says. After all, the urge to sneak-text a few emojis to a friend while using a phone’s calculator app in math class can be hard to resist.

Some students also use phones in ways that invade other people’s privacy, such as recording classmates or teachers without permission, then posting the content on social media.

Phones pull students’ attention away from classwork.

“When we deal with issues at school, half the time it’s related to something that somebody posted on Snapchat or TikTok or Twitter,” says Trevor Goertzen, a middle school principal in Spring Hill, Kansas. “It’s a constant battle.”

Many educators also point out that allowing phone use in class can give some students an unfair advantage. They stress the importance of tech equity—of all students having the same access to technology. And not every student has a phone.

“What about the kid who can’t afford a phone?” says Goertzen. “He just doesn’t get to learn then? I’m not OK with that.” 

SKILL SPOTLIGHT: Argument Writing

Should cell phones be allowed at school? Make a list of reasons for each side. Then write an argument essay to support your claim. Include reasons and evidence from the article as well as your own experiences or research.

Should cell phones be allowed at school?

Morning Rundown: Trump's attacks on Jewish Democrats, man charged in killing of sleeping train passengers, and this season's top NFL storylines

Phones are distracting students in class. More states are pressing schools to ban them

SAN FRANCISCO — In California, a high school teacher complains that students watch Netflix on their phones during class. In Maryland, a chemistry teacher says students use gambling apps to place bets during the school day.

Around the country, educators say students routinely send Snapchat messages in class, listen to music and shop online, among countless other examples of how smartphones distract from teaching and learning.

The hold that  phones have on adolescents  in America today is well-documented, but teachers say parents are often not aware to what extent students use them inside the classroom. And increasingly, educators and experts are speaking with one voice on the question of how to handle it: Ban phones during classes.

“Students used to have an understanding that you aren’t supposed to be on your phone in class. Those days are gone,” said James Granger, who requires students in his science classes at a Los Angeles-area high school to place their phones in “a cellphone cubby” with numbered slots. “The only solution that works is to physically remove the cellphone from the student.”

Most schools already have rules regulating student phone use, but they are enforced sporadically. A growing number of leaders at the state and federal levels have begun endorsing school cellphone bans and suggesting new ways to curb access to the devices.

The latest state intervention came in Utah, where Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, last month urged all school districts and the state Board of Education to remove cellphones from classrooms. He cited studies that show learning improves, distractions are decreased and students are more likely to talk to each other if phones are taken away.

“We just need a space for six or seven hours a day where kids are not tethered to these devices,” Cox told reporters this month. He said his initiative, which is not binding, is part of a legislative push to protect kids in Utah from  the harms of social media .

Last year,  Florida  became the first state to crack down on phones in school. A law that took effect in July requires all Florida public schools to ban student cellphone use during class time and block access to social media on district Wi-Fi. Some districts, including Orange County Public Schools, went further and banned phones the entire school day.

Oklahoma ,  Vermont  and  Kansas  have also recently introduced what is becoming known as “phone-free schools” legislation.

And two U.S. senators — Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, and Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat — introduced legislation in December that would require a federal study on the effects of cellphone use in schools on  students’ mental health  and academic performance. Theirs is one of several bipartisan alliances calling for stiffer rules for social media companies and greater online safety for kids.

Nationally, 77% of U.S. schools say they prohibit cellphones at school for non-academic use, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

But that number is misleading. It does not mean students are following those bans or all those schools are enforcing them.

Just ask teachers.

“Cellphone use is out of control. By that, I mean that I cannot control it, even in my own classroom,” said Patrick Truman, who teaches at a Maryland high school that forbids student use of cellphones during class. It is up to each teacher to enforce the policy, so Truman bought a 36-slot caddy for storing student phones. Still, every day, students hide phones in their laps or under books as they play video games and check social media.

Tired of being the phone police, he has come to a reluctant conclusion: “Students who are on their phones are at least quiet. They are not a behavior issue.”

A study last year from Common Sense Media found that 97% of kids use their phones during school hours, and that kids say school cellphone policies vary — often from one classroom to another — and aren’t always enforced.

For a school cellphone ban to work, educators and experts say the school administration must be the one to enforce it and not leave that task to teachers. The Phone-Free Schools Movement, an advocacy group formed last year by concerned mothers, says policies that allow students to keep phones in their backpacks, as many schools do, are ineffective.

“If the bookbag is on the floor next to them, it’s buzzing and distracting, and they have the temptation to want to check it,” said Kim Whitman, a co-founder of the group, which advises schools to require phones be turned off and locked away all day.

Some students say such policies take away their autonomy and cut off their main mode of communication with family and friends. Pushback also has come from  parents who fear being cut off from their kids  if there is a school emergency. Whitman advises schools to make exceptions for students with special educational and medical needs, and to inform parents on expert guidance that phones can be a dangerous distraction for students during an emergency.

Jaden Willoughey, 14, shares the concern about being out of contact with his parents if there’s a crisis. But he also sees the upsides of turning in his phone at school.

At Delta High School in rural Utah, where Jaden is a freshman, students are required to check their phones at the door when entering every class. Each of the school’s 30 or so classrooms has a cellphone storage unit that looks like an over-the-door shoe bag with three dozen smartphone-sized slots.

“It helps you focus on your work, and it’s easier to pay attention in class,” Jaden said.

A classmate, Mackenzie Stanworth, 14, said it would be hard to ignore her phone if it was within reach. It’s a relief, she said, to “take a break from the screen and the social life on your phone and actually talk to people in person.”

It took a few years to tweak the cellphone policy and find a system that worked, said Jared Christensen, the school’s vice principal.

“At first it was a battle. But it has been so worth it,” he said. “Students are more attentive and engaged during class time. Teachers are able to teach without competing with cellphones. And student learning has increased,” he said, citing test scores that are at or above state averages for the first time in years. “I can’t definitively say it’s because of this policy. But I know it’s helping.”

The next battle will be against earbuds and smartwatches, he said. Even with phones stashed in pouches, students get caught listening to music on ear buds hidden under their hair or hoodies. “We haven’t included earbuds in our policy yet. But we’re almost there.”

The Associated Press

Watch CBS News

Schools across the U.S. restrict cellphones amid growing behavior, mental health, academic concerns

By Cara Tabachnick

September 2, 2024 / 8:00 AM EDT / CBS News

High school students who started school at Kansas City's Ewing Marion Kauffman School saw something new when they entered their classrooms: a cellphone lockbox. 

A new policy requires all high school students   to lock away their phones for the day. Students drop their mobiles into the box, which is designed for phones, and it's locked into after school hours, said Deon Whitten, dean of students at the charter school. The restrictions were instituted after a pilot study in 2023 with one ninth grade class showed those phone-free students had the highest GPA across the school, said Whitten. 

Once administrators saw the academic achievements the decision to restrict phones came easily. "There is a certain pressure with phones," said Whitten, 39, who has been at the charter school for about three years. "Now they could go to school and just be students. They don't have to worry." 

Teachers and administrators have long known cellphones were major distractions in learning: A  2023 Pew survey showed 72%  of high school teachers view cellphones as a major problem in their classrooms. 

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory on the effects of social media on youth mental health. This week he also issued an advisory on "parental stress," specifically naming monitoring children's phone use as a cause. 

But it's not just about academics. Cellphone restrictions can also assist with social development and creating community at the school, Kim Whitman a parent turned advocate told CBS News. Whitman, a co-founder of Phone Free , started advocating for no mobiles in schools after her children started their education. She said their organization surveys schools across the country that report massive behavioral issues, including fights planned on social media and an increasingly "anxious" generation. Whitman said if schools "allow phones to be present it's hard for students to connect and create a sense of belonging."

Some students concede having a phone in class distracted them from learning, and not having them felt better. "I'm not worried about the notifications I'm getting and who's texting me or what's going on on social media," Jazmine Anderson, an eighth grader at Martin Luther King Middle School in Virginia, told CBS News.

Administrators and communities listened: About 76% of public schools prohibit non-academic use of cellphones or smartphones during school hours, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics.

But not every district wants to deal with a ban. Some parents want to have access to their children for safety concerns — or in the event of everyone's worst nightmare, a mass shooting — or for more mundane reasons, like coordinating rides or after-school scheduling. Virginia's Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order in the state  that requires districts to limit or ban cell phones by Jan. 1, even though many are already piloting programs. He told CBS News' Meg Oliver that as a parent he understands there still are "very practical concerns that need to be put in place," and families often need to be in touch during the day.

Other teachers and administrators don't want to become what some New York City educators described to CBS New York as the "phone police," risking wasting time on enforcing the ban or arguing with students about their phones. The country's largest school district proposed a ban, but ultimately wasn't able to get phone restrictions in place before the 2024 school year, CBS New York reported . 

Kansas City's Whitten says things have gone fairly smoothly with the implementation, but before instituting the no cellphone rule they had to get buy-in from parents. Some pushed back, Whitten said, concerned about safety and being in touch with their children in case of a mass shooting or other events, and some parents he said, just want control.

Other large school districts,  such as Los Angeles , were able to ban phones on school campuses. Florida banned cellphones across the state in 2023 and Indiana and Ohio passed legislation this year. 

Other schools are approaching it piecemeal, district by district. 

Granite School District in Utah restricted cellphone use in schools this year, buying pouches to allow students to keep their phones on them, CBS affiliate  KUTV reported.  "There's a lot of bullying and harassment going on through social media (and) through texting that's distracting," said Andrea Stringham, Granite School District spokesperson. It's also something that would "just help our students overall — academically, mentally, emotionally," she said.

New Jersey's Cherry Hill Public School District said they are instituting their new cellphone restrictions, which were passed in August, in steps. Superintendent Kwame Morton told CBS News after much discussion kids are going to be allowed to keep their cellphones on their person during school hours, but aren't allowed to use them during instructional hours. Students who don't follow the rules will be subject to the school's disciplinary policy, he said. Morton said after some pushback from vocal parents, the school decided to go with the least restrictive route. 

Morton said there was a consensus around concerns for students and constant access to mobile devices. "Kids are just growing up with a constant barrage on their mental health," he said.

Cara Tabachnick is a news editor at CBSNews.com. Cara began her career on the crime beat at Newsday. She has written for Marie Claire, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. She reports on justice and human rights issues. Contact her at [email protected]

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How smart is it to allow students to use mobile phones at school?

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How does the presence of mobile phones in schools impact student achievement?

This is an ongoing debate in many countries today. Some advocate for a complete ban, while others promote the use of mobile phones as a teaching tool in classrooms.

So, the question is: Should schools allow the use of mobile phones?

While views remain divided, some schools are starting to allow a restricted use of mobile phones. Most recently, New York Mayor de Blasio lifted a ten-year-ban on phones on school premises, with the chancellor of schools stating that it would reduce inequality.

As researchers studying the economics of education, we conducted a study to find out what impact banning mobile phones has had on student test scores in subsequent years.

We found that not only did student achievement improve, but also that low-achieving and at-risk students gained the most. We found the impact of banning phones for these students equivalent to an additional hour a week in school, or to increasing the school year by five days .

Increased student performance

We studied mobile phone bans in England, as mobile phones are very popular there amongst teenagers. The research involved surveying schools in four cities in England (Birmingham, London, Leicester and Manchester) about their mobile phone policies since 2001 and combining it with student achievement data from externally marked national exams.

After schools banned mobile phones, test scores of students aged 16 increased by 6.4% of a standard deviation, which means that it added the equivalent of five days to the school year.

While our study was based in the UK, where, by 2012, 90.3% of teenagers owned a mobile phone, these results are likely to be significant even here in the US, where 73% of teenagers own a mobile phone.

It is important to note that these gains are prominent amongst the lowest achievers, and changing policy to allow phones in schools has the potential to exacerbate learning inequalities.

The gains observed amongst students with lowest achievement when phones were banned were double those recorded among average students. Our results also indicate the ban having a greater impact on special education needs students and those eligible for free school meals.

However, banning mobile phones had no discernible effect on high achievers. Also, interestingly, 14-year-olds were not significantly affected in either direction. This could be due to low phone use amongst this age group.

Impact on student performance

Schools in England have complete autonomy regarding their mobile phone policy. This has resulted in large differences in the timing of the introduction of mobile phone bans. This variation facilitated our study.

Our research used the differences in implementation dates across schools and noted subsequent changes in student test scores.

In 2001, none of the surveyed schools had a ban in place; by 2007 this had increased to 50%; and by 2012, 98% of schools did not allow phones on school premises (or required them to be handed in at the beginning of the day).

We compared the gains in student test scores within and across schools before and after a ban.

In addition, the administrative data gave us information on student characteristics such as gender, eligibility for free school meals, special education needs status and prior educational attainment. This allowed us to calculate the impact on students from each of these groups.

School policy on phones

Technological advancements are commonly viewed as increasing productivity. Modern technology is used in the classroom to engage students and improve performance. There are, however, potential drawbacks as well, as they could lead to distractions.

Mobile phones are a prime example of this, as they provide students with access to texting, games, social media and the internet. A review of literature in our study suggests ambiguous impact of use of technology in the classroom on student achievement.

We add to this by demonstrating that mobile phones could have a negative impact on students’ learning outcomes. The financial resources that schools would require for a similar gain in instruction time (the equivalent of restricting mobile phone use) would be quite substantial.

These findings do not discount the possibility that mobile phones and other forms of technology could be useful in schools if their use is properly structured.

However, our findings do suggest that the presence of mobile phones in schools should not be ignored.

The mayor of New York got rid of the ban on mobile phones with an argument that this would reduce inequalities. However, as our research shows, the exact opposite result is likely. Worse, allowing phones into schools would harm the lowest achieving and low income students the most.

• Mobile phones
• Free school meals
• Public schools
• New York Mayor de Blasio
• Cellphone ban
• High achievers
• Modern technology
• Learning Inequality
• Special education

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Why Should Phones Be Allowed in School? 4 Things to Consider

• McArthur Wesley
• Published: December 26, 2023
• Updated: April 5, 2024

As a teacher, I’ve implemented smartphones into my educational strategies. Given their prevalence and capabilities, these devices could significantly take learning experiences in classrooms to the next level.

It’s worth exploring how smartphones, essentially compact computers, might improve student engagement and facilitate access to educational resources.

Let’s take a look at the ways smartphones could positively impact education.

1. Enhancing Learning Opportunities

I perceive smartphones as powerful tools for accessing a wide range of information instantly.

This access enables students to explore topics better, promoting curiosity and self-motivated learning. The capability to reach beyond classroom walls and engage with global perspectives and current data is transformative.

The variety of educational apps available makes learning more interactive and captivating. These apps accommodate different subjects and learning preferences, providing tailored experiences that can improve understanding and memory retention .

In my classroom, I use interactive quizzes to engage students and enhance their learning experience. For example, I create quizzes using platforms like Kahoot or Quizizz , which are both user-friendly and highly interactive.

Here’s how I implement them:

Preparation Phase

• First, I select a topic we’ve recently covered in class, such as the water cycle, basic algebra, or literary devices.
• I developed a series of multiple-choice questions that range in difficulty. These questions are designed to test students’ understanding of key concepts and encourage critical thinking.
• After creating the questions, I upload them to the chosen platform, setting up the quiz. I include images or short videos when possible to make the quiz more engaging and to cater to visual learners.

Implementation Phase

• I introduce the quiz at the start of the class, briefly explaining how the platform works and what the quiz will cover. This sets the stage and builds excitement.
• Students use their smartphones to join the quiz using a unique code I provide. They answer questions in real time, with each question timed to add a sense of urgency and competition.
•  As students submit their answers, they receive immediate feedback on their responses. This instant feedback is crucial for reinforcing learning and correcting misconceptions on the spot.

Discussion Phase

• After the quiz, we review the questions as a class. I highlight common mistakes and explain the correct answers in detail. This review session encourages group discussion and allows students to ask questions.
• I encourage students to reflect on their performance and the material. We discuss strategies for improving understanding in challenging areas.

Benefits Observed

• Students are more engaged and participate actively during these quizzes. The competitive element and real-time feedback keep them motivated.
• The immediate feedback and subsequent review sessions help students solidify their understanding and address any areas of confusion.
• These quizzes are adaptable to any subject or grade level, making them a versatile tool in my teaching arsenal.

By integrating smartphones into my lessons, I can complement and enhance traditional teaching methods.

I take advances of these devices to share additional resources like videos or podcasts, which can offer new viewpoints or simplify complex ideas.

Norries, Hossain, and Soloway (2011) in their study demonstrated that students’ achievement increase significantly when students use mobile learning devices, including smartphones, during learning time. This is because their time-on-task completion will increase as they have the device at hand. Norries et al. (2011) also found that students were constantly using the smartphone camera to take pictures of abstract concepts taught in class so that later they could relate them with the concrete ideas. Malaysian Online Journal of Educational Technology

2. Facilitating Communication

‘ve seen the difference smartphones can make in our classrooms. They’ve changed the way we communicate, for the better. With just a few taps, students can reach out to me with their questions or for feedback on their work. It’s made our interactions more immediate and, honestly, a lot clearer.

This is a big win, especially when a student needs that extra bit of help or encouragement.

And it’s not just about making things easier for us in the classroom. Smartphones have been a game-changer in keeping parents in the loop.

I can send updates about how their child is doing, share news about upcoming school events, or just give them a heads-up on homework.

It’s like we’re all part of a closer, more connected community.

Then there’s how students use their phones to work together.

It’s pretty cool to see them sharing resources, hashing out ideas in group chats, or co-creating projects, even after school hours.

It goes beyond just making learning more interactive; it’s about teaching them to collaborate and support each other , skills that they’ll use well beyond their school years.

3. Supporting Various Learning Styles

Whether students learn best visually, through listening, or by doing, mobile phones offer something for everyone.

This adaptability is key in making learning more accessible and effective across our diverse student body.

Smartphones have been particularly revolutionary for students with special needs in our classrooms. They are crucial for their easier understanding of things

Use of Smartphones had created new opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities for the meaningful engagement in different activities during the pandemic situation. Online learning provided extensive opportunities for individuals during those pandemic days when everything is closed due to the fear of transmission of COVID-19. Similarly individuals with developmental disabilities are also getting opportunity to learn online through Smartphone. Special educators were conducting online classes with students with developmental disabilities to make them meaningfully engaged during this pandemic situation. Priti Arun

4. Emergency and Safety

In situations like school emergencies, fires, gas leaks, or injuries, being able to quickly use my phone is crucial. It lets my students alert authorities or their parents quickly, saving important time.

Features like sharing location are especially important in these moments.

Also, when unexpected things like family issues or transportation troubles happen, having their phone means they can easily reach out to me or someone in guardian.

This direct communication not only lowers stress and confusion but also strengthens feelings of safety and preparedness.

It’s becoming increasingly clear to me that smartphones have much more to offer in education than their typical uses for communication or entertainment. They have the potential to be invaluable educational tools.

By improving access to information, accommodating various learning styles, and enhancing communication between teachers, students, and parents, smartphones could greatly enrich the educational experience.

Nonetheless, integrating smartphones into classrooms requires careful planning and strict guidelines to ensure we tap into their benefits while avoiding distractions or misuse.

As a mentor, I share my knowledge with educators worldwide, believing in the power of collective wisdom to shape a better future.

My leadership has turned Talks With Teachers into a haven for educators to grow and celebrate their profession, truly embodying the organization’s pioneering and caring ethos.

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Our readers want a school mobile phone ban now – here’s why

We had a resounding result from the poll we conducted on whether young people should allowed to bring devices to school

Should we ban mobile phones in schools?

We posed this question to readers last week after the Scottish Government issued new guidance for head teachers.

A resounding 85% of those who voted in our poll said we should ban mobile phones in schools.

Only 15% said schools should allow pupils to bring devices.

Many head teachers will be considering their own school’s approach, as the guidance leaves the call up to them.

Smartphones can be a useful learning tool.

Indeed in some schools pupils rely on them for elements of coursework in the absence of comprehensive laptop or tablet provision.

But smartphones also cause massive disruption and distraction in classrooms and can fuel bullying and harassment.

What do readers say?

We also asked readers to tell us why they agree or disagree with a ban.

Fraser Boyd says there is “very little positive about mobile phones in schools”.

“The incessant demanding buzz of the Snapchat streak is a constant distraction for pupils in class.

“The amount of time (and data) spent sending meaningless ‘Snaps’ back and forth ruins kids’ ability to concentrate on a lesson.”

He also argued against classroom-only bans.

“It’s missing the point to allow phones to be used at breaks and lunchtimes; this is when pupils should be socialising face to face, and hundreds are not; they are simply finding corners to sit in and hunch over their phones.”

‘Total ban, no question’

Squatter Madras says there should be a “total ban, no question”.

“Many private schools have banned them years ago with only positive, evidenced outcomes, the empirical evidence is incontrovertible.

“The United Nations have said they should be banned . Attainment in Scottish schools has divebombed by any yardstick.

“So the question should be, ‘why have they not been banned years ago?’ Our children deserve better.”

There’s no good reason to have mobile phones in schools, says Disappointed.

“They are a complete distraction. Pupils sit in class with their mobiles on or under the desk texting continually. They should have been banned many years ago.”

Mabel says her son’s school told her he needed a smartphone to take photos of homework and to look things up in lessons.

Let children socialise verbally

She gave her younger daughter a smartphone at the age of 13 to keep her in the loop with friends.

But she says: “Absolutely they should be banned and I should think the majority of parents would agree.

“Banning them at school would allow girls (and boys!) to socialise verbally during the day.”

None of our commenters argued the case for allowing mobile phones in schools.

However, some pupils use their smartphones for school work.

And many parents feel a sense of security knowing their child has a mobile phone with them.

There are also those who need devices for health reasons, such as those with diabetes, and young carers may need to be in constant contact with home.

The new Scottish Government guidance states head teachers know what is best for their school and it will support those who decide to ban phones .

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How are you managing your kids' cellphone usage amid classroom bans? We want to hear from you

As students across Canada return to school this week, they'll face a new reality: stricter rules on cellphone use in the classroom.

An expert says the upsides of a cellphone ban are clear — the mere presence of a cellphone, even if it's not in use, can hinder a student's ability to focus.

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"We know from some really good studies that when the cellphone is in a child's desk or in their backpack, their ability to attend to the work in front of them is significantly decreased versus when the cellphone is in another room beside them," explains clinical child psychologist Todd Cunningham in a CTV News Channel interview Tuesday.

Cunningham says cellphone bans will allow students to listen to their teachers, do the work in front of them and engage in social conversations within and outside the classroom environment.

Ontario students from kindergarten to Grade 6 must keep their phones on silent and out of sight for the entire school day starting this year. Cellphones cannot be used during class time for students in Grade 7 to Grade 12. The province has said cellphones may only be used if permitted by a teacher or if students have special education or medical needs.

While the policy has been met with some pushback, Cunningham says it is not surprising, as "anytime we have these big changes, there's a lot of anxiety that gets developed."

Cunningham says we are a society connected to our phones and see them as important tools for getting bits of information on a regular basis. When that is removed from us, we start to feel a little lost, he says.

More provinces have announced cellphone bans, including British Columbia's "bell-to-bell" rule and Saskatchewan.

Manitoba, Alberta, Quebec and Nova Scotia have also moved to curb cellphone use in schools.

Cunningham notes that the pull of smartphones is particularly problematic for students who already struggle with attention issues. "Individuals who have attention-related difficulties, they actually gravitate to entertainment devices, social media devices, because they're getting more of what their brains are actually missing, and so that draws them in more."

According to Cunningham, 30 per cent of youth spend three hours or more a day on their phones. "That's three hours a day they're not talking with their peers around them, developing those social skills of being present to listen and having drawn-out conversations," he says.

Cunningham adds that if kids are encouraged to limit their cellphone use in classrooms, adults must model it too.

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"If we're expecting our children to start to do this, as we come through the front door at the end of the day, we need to put our phones down too," Cunningham advises. "We need to be attuned to the family members around us, or when we're sitting down at the dinner table, or even when we're driving."

Are you a parent or teacher navigating this new cellphone ban? CTVNews.ca wants to hear from you.

How do you feel about the recent cellphone bans in classrooms? What have your experiences been with your child's cellphone usage? What strategies have you found are effective in managing cellphone usage? Is there any impact, positive or negative, on your child's behaviour related to mobile usage?

Share your story by emailing us at [email protected] with your name and location and phone number in case we want to follow-up. Your comments may be used in a CTVNews.ca story.

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How some UAE schools ban, restrict mobile phone use to limit distractions

A ban on mobile phones, smartwatches, and tablets was announced in netherlands this week, but many schools here implemented measures much earlier.

Nandini Sircar

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A ban on smart devices in schools in the Netherlands made global headlines this week, but many schools in the UAE have already implemented stringent tech policies.

Students at primary and secondary schools in the Netherlands are now prohibited from using cell phones, smartwatches, and tablets. The government labelled these devices as “distractions” that hinder academic performance and social interaction.

In February, England also enacted a ban on mobile phones in schools.

Meanwhile, several schools in Dubai have implemented strict mobile-phone policies, as highlighted by education experts in an interview with Khaleej Times .

“We have a strict policy regarding mobile phones. While students are allowed to carry phones, they are not permitted to use them in class without explicit teacher permission,” said Lisa Johnson, Principal, American Academy for Girls, Dubai.

The school has a graduated consequence system in place for violations. “After an initial warning, further infractions result in the phone being confiscated and held by the principal, with a parent required to come to school to retrieve it. This approach ensures that classroom time remains focused and free from unnecessary distractions,” she said.

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School leaders emphasise they encourage responsible use of technology, focusing on educating students about appropriate use and the health risks associated with excessive screen time.

No-mobile-phone policy on campus

Certain institutions, particularly schools following the Indian curriculum, enforced a no-phone policy.

Deepika Thapar Singh, CEO-Principal, Credence High School, said, “We are dedicated to cultivating a focused and engaging learning environment for our students. To achieve this, we have established a no-mobile phone policy on campus, encouraging students to be fully immersed in their education.

"We have a system that ensures parents can easily communicate with teachers and supervisors when needed. During emergencies, parents can also contact the school reception for prompt assistance."

Schools get innovative

Johnson added, "Students in Grade 1 and up are required to have laptops or tablets, which have similar capabilities to smartphones. Locking mobile phones becomes less effective due to this access.

"To encourage face-to-face interaction, some schools have timed tech zones during break times, “where students can use their devices in designated areas for limited periods."

“Additionally, we are considering implementing a system where students would need to use exercise equipment as a ‘ticket’ for technology use during breaks, promoting both physical activity and responsible tech use."

Filters to block social media sites

Principals also reiterate that school networks have strong filters that block access to social media sites, helping to minimise distractions and protect students from inappropriate content.

“We continually monitor and update these filters, regularly adding new sites to the blocked list as necessary. While we discourage the use of technology during breaks, this can be challenging to enforce because students often use their devices for reading and other educational purposes. Rather than policing devices heavily, we guide students on how to use them wisely and productively,” Johnson said.

Home-school partnership required

Certain Dubai schools hold regular sessions for parents to discuss the issue with educators. They explained that the strong home-school partnership was more effective than a ‘total ban’ imposition.

Simon Herbert, Head of School/CEO, GEMS International School – Al Khail, said: “Our secondary students are allowed to bring a phone to school, and to keep it either in their locker or in their school bag. This means that during the school day, a phone should not be used. After school, however, if a student needs to contact home (or vice versa), they have the means to do so. Phones are discouraged in primary school, as stated in our handbook for families."

Reflecting on other devices, schools heads reiterated that laptops and tablets are considered merely a means to an end, and not an end in itself.

“Technology is a powerful tool, but all educators must provide justification for the use of technology in lessons. Technology can significantly enhance a lesson, through platforms, resources, engagement, and cognitive challenge, but we must never simply rely on technology for its own sake. Planning well with our educators is key,” added Herbert.

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