Education
Do You Think Cellphones Should Be Banned in Schools?
Do You Think Cellphones Should Be Banned in Schools?
Here’s The Scoop
“School shooting rn…I’m scared…pls…I’m not joking,” a high school student texted his mother as the horrific shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, Georgia, unfolded.
The tragic event resulted in the deaths of two teachers and two students, with nine others wounded.
This heart-wrenching message, which quickly went viral, underscores the deep-seated fears of countless parents: that their children could be the next victims of a school shooting.
This incident has reignited the debate over restrictive cellphone policies in K-12 schools. While many educators argue that cellphones distract students and hinder their engagement in class, some parents fear being unable to contact their children during emergencies.
Despite school shootings being statistically rare, their frequency and impact have increased in recent years. Since 2018, there have been 205 school shootings resulting in injuries or deaths, according to Education Week’s tracker.
Parents overwhelmingly want their children to have access to cellphones at school for emergency contact, as highlighted by a National Parents Union survey. Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union, emphasized the anxiety parents feel about their children’s safety and the difficulty of reaching them during emergencies.
School safety expert Kenneth S. Trump (no relation to the former president) acknowledges these concerns. He describes cellphones as an “emotional security blanket” for parents, providing direct contact with their children during crises. However, Trump also warns that cellphone use during emergencies can increase risks. Students may become distracted from life-saving instructions or inadvertently attract attention from perpetrators.
Despite these risks, some parents argue that their children’s immediate access to cellphones is crucial. At Dothan Preparatory Academy in Alabama, students must lock away their phones during the school day. While this policy initially faced backlash, it has since gained acceptance. Assistant Principal Charles Longshore believes the policy creates a safer school environment, although he anticipates renewed parental concerns following the Apalachee shooting.
Advocates for phone-free schools, like Kim Whitman of the Phone-Free Schools Movement, remain steadfast. They argue that restricting cellphone access is in the best interest of students, even in emergency situations.
This tragic incident highlights the need for open dialogue between parents, educators, and safety experts. While educators’ concerns about classroom distractions are valid, parents’ fears for their children’s safety cannot be ignored. Safety expert Trump suggests that school leaders engage in conversations with students and parents to explain the dangers of cellphone use during emergencies.
Ultimately, finding common ground is essential. Parents must understand that their actions, such as calling their children during a crisis, could inadvertently put them in greater danger. Educators and safety experts must acknowledge parents’ need for reassurance and work together to develop policies that balance safety and communication.
What do you think? Let us know by participating in our poll, or join the discussion in the comment section below!
FRANK GOLLINGER
September 16, 2024 at 11:23 am
So what would the parent say to the student? Better to discuss beforehand the need to follow instructions of school and safety personnel! A much more practical and effective policy. Lock phones away during entire school OR leave phones at home in order to remove distraction from purpose for which they are in attendance. This would also eliminate potential calls between students and perpetrators’!
Dianne Toma
September 16, 2024 at 2:52 pm
I can see both sides of this situation. Cellphone use is another topic that all people need to learn. It is a lesson that needs to be taught by their parents and schools. I believe it is a lesson that is as important as driving and other social behaviors. It is important use for safety reasons, but when to use them and how is as important as learning how and when to use a gun or automobile, and probably other things we just take for granted. Another important app that is important to learn about using before just releasing it is AI. It is important to be taught the good and bad uses and non-uses and probably should be licensed too. Not all adults grow up automatically smart.
Dianne Toma
September 16, 2024 at 2:54 pm
I can see both sides of this situation. Cellphone use is another topic that all people need to learn. It is a lesson that needs to be taught by their parents and schools. I believe it is a lesson that is as important as driving and other social behaviors. It is important use for safety reasons, but when to use them and how is as important as learning how and when to use a gun or automobile, and probably other things we just take for granted.
Jerry C.
September 16, 2024 at 7:27 pm
Schools should either ban cellphones on school property (we used the phone in the office if we HAD to make a call or a payphone in the hall if we WANTED to make a call while parents had to call the office) or install jammers. Personally, I would not be at all unhappy if we just banned the damn things, altogether, for anyone under 18, giving our hapless youth more opportunity to engage with the real world around them.
Mr John L Tanskly Sr
September 17, 2024 at 1:09 pm
If you can trust the school personnel , lock the cell phones away. The phones only cause more confusion and stress. Let the guardians at the school and police handle the situation. I am definitely for screening backpacks etc. and for screening anyone who posts a threat or otherwise. Let us use common sense in the school shootings and not be afraid to hurt peoples feelings. Parents and guardians should be notified in a timely manor. Save our children our most important priority.
LMB
September 22, 2024 at 11:30 am
I can can see both side of this issue. If you can get them to keep them in their pocket, backpack, whatever, then ok. The other side is catching the teacher abuse in action by student video/phone.
Cheryl
September 22, 2024 at 11:43 am
They should be put in a safe place where the students could access them in an emergency, but not all day long. They distract from school work and restrict the student’s need to interact with REAL PEOPLE face to face. I’ve seen kids sitting five feet away from one another and texting instead of actually talking to each other. The phones don’t help with actual social contact and make it harder to make new friends.
Margaret Lynn Fewell
September 22, 2024 at 1:00 pm
Guns in homes need to be kept in gun safes, especially when there are children in the home! I have great grandchildren that know how to shoot guns and have killed and eat venison! However, guns are kept in a large locked gun case and only the father knows the combination to open the safe! When our family lived in Michigan the younger children had to attend a hunter gun safety course in have the certificate to go hunting! When I was in school most of the boys drove a P.U. truck with a gun in the rear window. However, no one shot anyone! Sadly, we live in a different world today!
Mike Jackson
September 22, 2024 at 7:21 pm
Ban them for teachers too…I see local teachers posting on social media during instructional or planning times. You would think “educators” would know better!!
Don
September 24, 2024 at 7:43 am
To be used in emergency situations only and I mean real emergencies.