Efforts to ban students' cellphones at school is gaining rare bipartisan consensus in Republican and Democrat-led states.

Summary

Cellphone bans in schools are gaining bipartisan momentum, with at least eight states, including California, Florida, and Virginia, enacting restrictions to combat classroom distractions and protect children’s mental health.

Governors from both parties, such as Arkansas’ Sarah Huckabee Sanders and California’s Gavin Newsom, support these measures, citing benefits of phone-free school days.

While some parents oppose bans, citing emergencies and transportation needs, proponents argue phones disrupt learning and may pose risks during crises.

States differ on implementation, from outright bans to district-level policies or funding for phone storage solutions.

  • yetAnotherUser
    7·
    1 day ago

    There is like 1 school shooting per decade in Germany.

    Every single school has these buttons scattered around hallways:

    Couldn’t US schools just put those alarms next to fire alarms? It’s faster to hit a button anyways + teachers will be automatically notified with an announcement to lock the doors until further notice. No phones required.

    • WindyRebel@lemmy.world
      6·
      12 hours ago

      Different culture here:

      I see these being abused by pranksters. Also, that requires you to go outside of the classroom in a crisis where the gunman is typically roaming the halls.

      • yetAnotherUser
        2·
        11 hours ago

        I see these being abused by pranksters

        That can happen occasionally. But if you explain to the children why it’s important to not abuse this one button, it will hopefully reduce the number.

        That requires you to go outside of the classroom in a crisis where the gunman is typically roaming the halls

        You’d only really know there is a crisis when you hear shots being fired regardless. People in the hallways already - be it teachers or students - would also be able to hear the shots and press the button. And in case nobody is in the hallways, teachers inside class rooms can call 911 anyways since a phone ban doesn’t extend to them.

        You could install a button in each classroom if you want to 100% avoid your scenario.

        • skulblaka@sh.itjust.works
          3·
          7 hours ago

          But if you explain to the children why it’s important to not abuse this one button, it will hopefully reduce the number.

          I had actual bomb threats called in to my high school weekly for such reasons as “I didn’t want to take my math test”. I can guarantee with certainty this button would be constantly abused in American schools.