Technology in schools – specifically phones – has become an increasingly hot button topic. Parents and teachers have a mixed view on their children and/or students having access to phones in the classroom. The state of Illinois has been faced with this issue. The decision for the next step was to implement a phone ban in the classroom.
What is the phone ban?
Illinois’ Governor J.B Pritzker, “…signed into law SB 2427, instituting a statewide cell phone and personal device framework…the law requires school districts to develop and implement a “bell-to-bell” policy, restricting access to cell phones between the hours of the first arrival bell to the final dismissal bell.”
This is set to go into place by the 2027-2028 academic year. This plan overall is to cut down on phone usage. The benefits that Pritzker identifies with the bill is that it will, “…reduce the negative impacts cell phone use can have on kids – including mental health struggles such as anxiety, depression, and suffering self-image due to cyberbullying and social media.”
While this all seems to be beneficial for the health of students, another problem arises when phone access is restricted in class. What happens in the event of a school shooting? Or a lockdown?
It has been statistically proven by Luke J. Rapa in his work in the American Academy of Pediatrics that, “…school shootings have risen in frequency in the recent 25 years and are now at their highest recorded level.”
This statistic itself is a frightening concept to think about.
What a Secondary History Education major thinks
When addressing this specific concern, it would be more beneficial to look at the people who are going to be active in this environment. A new generation of teachers will be entering the scene. With this in mind, it was important to gather the views and opinions of those that this ban will ultimately affects. Two secondary education majors were interviewed.
Firstly was Adilene Sanchez Padilla, a sophomore Secondary History Education major.
With the thought of active shooters or other threats, Padilla was asked what she thought. Padilla made the point that parents would, “…have to find out what’s happening from the school or news instead of [their]kid.” This goes hand in hand with her statement that, “…school shootings happen…depending on what state you are [in]they happen more than others…kids not having access to their phones…not having the ability to contact parents to let them know what’s happening.”
School shootings and gun violence in general is a horrific crime. To be the parent of someone who has fallen victim to this and be uninformed of their wellbeing is a mournful thought. As mentioned above, school shootings have drastically increased, making this a reality for so many families and parents.
What a Secondary English Education major thinks
Jacqueline Kim is a Secondary English Education major, who had thoughts along the same line.
When asked about their feelings on this topic, they had a lot to say about critical safety lines.
For example, they stated that, “As for a critical safety line…. for students to have their phone is a good thing because…the school is not going to alert the parents right away…students can message their families what’s going on.”
Additionally, they spoke on the more morbid realities of this situation when they said, “My main thing is…there is a likelihood that you won’t survive…if you don’t have your phone, you can’t tell your loved ones you love them…just in case…I want to be able to say goodbye to the people I love or to say that I am safe.”
This is a reality that many families may have to face. Not being able to say goodbye to their child is something that will last with them for a lifetime. This emotional stress is more potent than can be conceivable.
The consensus between the two people interviewed is that there is a lot of danger in banning phones in schools. It keeps students from having a valuable resource at their disposal to say their goodbyes or reach out for help. A whole new problem arises at the hands of a bill designed with students’ wellbeing in mind.
