HANG UP THE CELLPHONES IN SCHOOLS: OUR

VIEW: CHRONIC DISTRACTION TO LEARNING

NEEDS RESTRICTION SO TEACHERS CAN
TEACH
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Buried near the bottom of the Madison School District's lengthy and jargon-filled behavior policy is a single sentence
that apparently applies to cellphones: "Use of any non-educationally required device, electronic or otherwise, that
detracts from and/or disrupts learning of oneself, or others, is prohibited."
If that refers to texting on phones in class, the policy is not being enforced much - if at all - in the city's high schools.
And some teachers don't seem to know it exists, or they fear they can't enforce it.
That needs to change with the start of classes this fall.
Cellphones in Madison's schools are "such a major distraction for students and staff," Madison School Board
member Laura Simkin said Wednesday. Elected in April, Simkin is wisely calling for clear standards and real
enforcement. Other board members and Superintendent Carlton Jenkins should support this important priority.
Cellphones are a "total distraction" and lead to planned altercations in halls and drug deals in bathrooms, according
to former Madison School Board President Barbara Arnold and former member Marj Passman.
Compare Madison's vague policy with Milwaukee Public Schools' definitive rule: "Students are prohibited from
activating, using or displaying electronic communication devices such as cellphones ... while on school premises." If
a student's phone is visible in class, it "will be confiscated, inventoried and stored in a secure location until the
school administration holds a conference with the parent or adult student."
Now that's more like it.
Madison students already have Chromebooks to complete classroom assignments, research information and
calculate data. They don't need to text their friends, watch videos or be glued to social media gossip when they're
supposed to be reading, crunching numbers or learning about American democracy.
Some Madison schools are trying to address this chronic problem. La Follette High School, for example, recently
informed parents it is creating and will implement a "universal cellphone plan" for fall.
"One major barrier to student learning is cellphones," La Follette's family newspaper July 11 stressed.
"Unfortunately, many Lancers are distracted by social media and videos during class time."
Parents may need to communicate with students about rides, activities and unexpected events before, between and
after classes. But once the bell rings for lessons to begin, the phones need to vanish.
Any new policy needs emphatic and clear language so students understand and respect sensible limits. For starters,
the Madison School District policy should actually include the word "cellphone." The district should make sure
teachers are empowered to take phones away if they see them in class. Only expressly permitted use of cellphones
by school staff on rare occasions and for limited periods should be allowed.
For example, if a student's Chromebook crashes, maybe they can have special permission to complete a lesson or
two using their phone.
But even that seems generous and ripe for abuse. Many teens spend more than eight hours a day on their phones,
according to Our Common Sense Census, sponsored in part by the Carnegie Corporation. Too much screen time
can exacerbate anxiety and depression. The isolating pandemic only made this problem worse.

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The message to students this fall should be consistent and backed by consequences: Put your phone away or your
teacher will confiscate it.

DETAILS

Subject: Cellular telephones; Students; School superintendents; Learning; Social networks;

School boards; School districts

Business indexing term: Subject: Social networks

Publication title: Wisconsin State Journal; Madison, Wis.

First page: B.3

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: Jul 24, 2022

Section: FORUM

Publisher: Madison Newspapers, Inc.

Place of publication: Madison, Wis.

Countryof publication: United States, Madison, Wis.

Publication subject: General Interest Periodicals--United States

ISSN: 0749405X

Source type: Newspaper

Language of publication: English

Document type: News

ProQuest document ID: 2693253710

Document URL: https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/hang-up-cellphones-

schools/docview/2693253710/se-2?accountid=31259

Copyright: Copyright Madison Newspapers, Inc. Jul 24, 2022

Last updated: 2022-07-24

Database: ProQuest Central

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