Cellphones should be banned in schools

I am writing as a concerned parent regarding the use of cellphones by students commuting to local elementary schools on school buses, as well as the use of cellphones throughout the school day. During these hour-long commutes, children are frequently exposed to lewd, profane and inappropriate videos, which pose serious risks to their well-being and the learning environment. Additionally, during the school day, these digital distractions unfairly reduce the quality of a child's education by diminishing recall and comprehension. A study found that it can take students up to 20 minutes to refocus on what they were learning after engaging with their smartphone! Think about that the next time you send a happy face emoji to your child when they are supposed to be paying attention to their teacher. 

Schools can still play a critical role in removing digital distractions from the classroom. While what happens outside school grounds is beyond direct control, policy adjustments could help mitigate these concerns. 

Research strongly supports the educational benefits of limiting phone access. A study led by Louis-Philippe Beland, an economics professor at Carleton University, found that banning mobile phones in schools improves student performance, especially among low-achieving students. The study equates the academic benefit of a phone ban to students gaining an additional hour of instructional time daily. Children attend 180 days of school each year. Just imagine the positive impact of 180 extra hours on your child's intellectual development by making this one change. It sounds like a good New Year's resolution to me. 

Additional reasons for considering a ban include: 

• Mental and physical health risks: Research links excessive social media use to unhealthy behaviors affecting both mental and physical well-being

• Reduced attention span: Constant exposure to smartphone content diminishes children's attention spans

• Classroom disruptions: Teachers face ongoing disruptions due to phone use, making effective teaching challenging

• Delayed cognitive refocusing: A UNESCO study across 14 countries found that after using a phone in class, young brains take 20 minutes to refocus on learning tasks, even if the phone interaction lasted only seconds. This finding is supported by the 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report titled Technology in Education by UNESCO.

California, Florida, Louisiana, Indiana and South Carolina have banned cellphones in schools, and many other states are proposing bills to do the same. Globally, many countries have banned cellphone use in schools, including Australia, China, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Portgual and Sweeden. 

I understand the concern parents have about knowing the whereabouts of their child while at school. The truth is that there are numerous GPS devices to address this concern, such as Garmin Bounce, Apple AirTag and Verizon Gizmo, just to name a few, and many incorporate a texting and voice messaging function that serves as substitute for a smartphone. 

I urge parents to call Cape Henlopen School District Superintendent Bob Fulton and their local school principals to advocate for a cellphone ban in schools to protect valuable learning time.