It is hard to believe that the iPhone debuted 17 years ago, on June 29, 2007, launching the modern smartphone era that now includes virtually every K-12 student.
The Washington Post reported that in 2009-2010, before cellphones became ubiquitous, schools generally barred their use. A national survey that year found that 91% of all schools prohibited nonacademic use of cellphones during school hours.
Things sure have changed in the last 14 years. According to a 2023 Common Sense Media study, some 97% of 11- to 17-year-olds now use their phones primarily for personal reasons during the school day.
In today’s hyper-connected world, the cellphone has become an essential part of daily life. It has revolutionized how we communicate, access information and entertain ourselves.
However, their ubiquity presents unique challenges, particularly in educational settings like high schools. Though cellphones offer numerous benefits, their presence during school hours can harm the educational environment.
All Colorado school districts should adopt a no-phone policy use during the school day.
What is the case against mobile phones in school?
They are a major distraction during the school day.
The debate over whether cellphones should be banned from public high schools during school hours has been intensifying over the past few years. Critics argue that cellphones are a major disruption for learning, that they reduce student socialization, they are catalysts for cyberbullying and hindrances to academic performance.
It’s time to standardize protocols in all Colorado school districts for when students can use their cellphones during the school day.
Numerous studies have shown that multitasking with digital devices impairs attention and learning. Students who frequently check their phones during class are less likely to retain information, participate in discussions and complete assignments.
When students focus more on their devices than on the teacher or lesson at hand, they miss out on critical learning opportunities.
In June, a Pew Research survey concluded that 72% of high school teachers say cellphone distraction is a major problem in classrooms.
The Common Sense Media study found teens get bombarded with as many as 237 notifications a day, over 25% of them during the school day, mostly from friends on social media.
Phones prevent socialization between students during school.
Cellphones can take away from kids’ in-person socializing. Face-to-face interactions are essential for building relationships and understanding social cues, vital skills both in and out of the classroom. By removing cellphones, schools can encourage students to engage more with their surroundings and develop these essential interpersonal skills.
Spending excessive time on their phones, has led to a massive spike in student depression, anxiety and mental illness.
Studies show that cellphones are a tool for cyberbullying, a pervasive issue in schools. It makes it easier for bullies to harass their peers without immediate repercussions.
The Cyberbullying Research Center has found that approximately 34% of students have experienced cyberbullying at some point in their lives.
Excessive social media use also heightens the risk of anxiety and depression, particularly when some students are ignored or left out by their peers.
Phones are an undue burden on teachers to enforce in their classrooms.
Teachers often find it challenging to manage classrooms where cellphones are prevalent. The National Education Association, the country’s largest teacher’s union, reports educators’ widespread frustration with cellphone use.
The presence of phones can undermine teacher authority and make classroom management more difficult. When students are allowed to use cellphones during school hours, teachers often struggle to enforce rules consistently, leading to a chaotic and less-productive learning environment. A Colorado district-wide cellphone ban during instructional hours supports teachers in maintaining control and less need for enforcement in their classrooms. It reinforces the importance of focusing on education.
On the other hand, the educational benefits of phones are overstated: phone usage reduces learning.
Classroom learning by using cellphones often is overstated: Yes, these devices can provide access to educational resources and tools, but the potential for misuse and distraction far outweighs these benefits.
Tablets and computers can replace many of the educational functions that can be more easily monitored.
By focusing on these alternative technologies, schools can harness their benefits without the associated drawbacks of cellphones.
This fall at Doherty High School in Colorado Springs, all 1,700 students must put their phones away all day inside magnetically locked pouches, at the same time their IDs are checked when they enter the school building. The now popular magnetic pouch marketed by the company Yondr, stays with the student during school hours, but can only be opened at the end of the school day, or under special circumstances by a school official, taking the burden off of teachers to enforce. Yondr has become the de facto standard for schools to help solve the ubiquitous cellphone problem.
Many Colorado state school districts are now considering a total cellphone ban policy.
According to the educational publication Chalkbeat, as of Aug. 27, a survey of 20 larger school districts in our state found only 14 had districtwide policies about cellphone usage. Six did not. Those with no district phone policies were Denver, Jefferson County, Aurora, St. Vrain Valley, Academy 20 and Thompson. While phones should be banned by districts, they must also be committed to providing reasonable accommodations for special-need students.
The Boulder Valley School District, like many others in Colorado, has policies that require high school students to put away their phones during class hours, but doesn’t require a total ban.
In August, the Boulder Valley School Board directed staff members to strengthen the district policy by banning high school students from using their phones from bell to bell, including passing periods and lunch, the decision reflects a growing desire by educators and parents to separate students from their phones, the Camera reported on Aug. 30.
The case for banning cellphones from Colorado public schools during school hours is compelling.
The interference with the development of social skills, the potential health risks, and the undermining of traditional learning and discipline further strengthen the argument for a total ban.
Schools and educators should seek input from all stakeholders (administrators, educators, parents and all affected parties) before adopting policies. But the case for banning cellphones in schools is compelling except those students with special needs, such as health monitoring.
By removing cellphones during the school day, we can create a more focused, safe and equitable learning environment that better supports the academic and personal development of all students.
Victor Hugo gets the last word: “There is nothing so powerful as an idea whose time has come.”
Jim Martin can be reached at jimmartinesq@gmail.com.
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