In school after school, the story is the same: students’ smartphones distract them from studying and erosion Mental health and face-to-face social connections. This places an unbearable burden on teachers and administrators, who regulate their use according to school policies. To solve this problem in the Los Angeles Unified School District, I introduced Resolution banning students from using mobile phones During school time. I believe this policy is necessary to create a healthier learning environment for our children.
Research confirmed what I observed when I visited schools. In The Anxious Generation: How the Great Reinvention of Childhood Created an Epidemic of Mental Illness, psychologist Jonathan Haidt shows how smartphone use and social mediaand exposure to both in schools, leading to higher rates of depression, anxiety, cyberbullying, and physical conflict. Additionally, cell phones and social media lead to lower rates of meaningful face-to-face interactions and less beneficial social-emotional development.
The academic losses were equally severe. UNESCO Report 2023 The negative impact of mobile phones on education around the world is clearly shown, pointing to increased classroom disruptions and reduced academic performance.
Research proves the dangers of smartphones and social media, and measures are being implemented to limit students’ use of mobile phones in schools gain momentum All over the country and even the world. A few states, including Indiana and Florida, even more schools and districts have implemented school smartphone bans. and california is at least one six states Countries that have not yet enacted legislation.
The new rules appear to be working. Some study have indicated Limiting cell phone use in the classroom can improve academic performance, with gains in test scores similar to those gained by adding an hour a week. A study of Spanish schools The results of the smartphone ban showed a significant increase in test scores and a significant decrease in cyberbullying. Researchers found Also good for the bodybecause restrictions on cell phone use during breaks lead to people spending more time on activities.
Principals in the Los Angeles Unified School District who implemented a no-phone policy reported fewer fights, increased student engagement and an overall more positive school environment. But currently district policy It hasn’t been updated since 2011, so they’ve had to implement stricter rules themselves. If the new policy is approved, principals will simply conduct district guidance.
A smartphone ban in Los Angeles Unified School District schools will pose challenges, especially in terms of enforcement. But these are obstacles that can be overcome. many schools Distribute magnetically sealed cell phone bags to students. The bags lock and unlock with a specialized magnet, which is placed near the school entrance. Students tap the bag to lock it when they arrive at school, then tap it again to unlock it when they leave. Another option is to collect devices into cell phone lockers in the morning; students can retrieve them at the end of the day or in an emergency.
Some schools rely on a code of trust and honor—kids can keep their phones but are guaranteed not to have them with them during the day. However, Haidt said that without actually removing these devices from the equation, teachers and staff end up having to enforce these bans on top of their already full workloads. Even the most vigilant teacher can’t always stop sneaky scrolling. One-on-one enforcement requires more time from teachers and administrators than confiscating phones and returning them at the beginning and end of school.
A common concern about locked smartphones is that students will be unable to call for help in an emergency. Some public safety experts say Children are safer without their phones in emergencies. For example, if a shooting occurs, too many students calling 911 could lead to a shooting. The switch is overloaded, Noise or vibration from cell phones may reveal a student’s location. School officials, not students, are required to implement emergency plans and communicate with teachers, students, parents and law enforcement.
Implementing a smartphone-free policy in Los Angeles Unified School District schools is not ignoring the realities of the digital age. Students can still access the internet using district-provided laptops and tablets. By removing personal smartphones and social media from schools, we will help children focus on technology that supports education and free them from the distractions of technology that does not.
Just as we ban harmful substances like tobacco and alcohol from our schools, we must also implement a district-wide agreement to address the adverse effects of smartphones and social media on children. By getting rid of cell phones, Los Angeles Unified School District can help restore learning environments that foster focus, social connection, and healthy development. Our children deserve the same treatment.
Nick Melvin is Los Angeles Board of Education Member. @nickmelvin
