Educator’s Take: Do cell phone bans work?
Be sure to check out the suggested Huddle question at the bottom of this article to discuss this important topic with your students in class, if you feel it is appropriate.
A survey by the EdWeek Research Center revealed that about 1 in 10 educators reported that cell phones are banned in their schools, and 22% believe they should be prohibited on campus. The sentiment among educators is divided, with some praising the positive impact of cell phone bans on student focus and engagement, while others express the challenges of enforcing such policies, such as complaints from parents and tension between teachers and students.
A staggering 88% of teens own a personal smartphone, and even younger children aged 8 to 12 join in, with 43% owning their own smartphones. While cell phone bans may help students focus better in class, this approach only empowers them to manage their screen time at school, making it difficult to concentrate at home. Rather than taking a scare and restrict approach to cell phones, we suggest a positive and proactive approach that empowers students to strike a balance with their devices so they can work effectively, in and out of the classroom.
What educators had to say about cell phone bans
In the EdWeek survey, more than 200 educators shared their perspectives on the growing concerns over cell phones. Survey participants utilized an open-ended question to express their views on the survey topics, resulting in the sharing of positive and negative experiences educators have with cell phone bans. Some compared students’ cell phone use to addiction, while others recalled instances where students felt distressed when their cell phones were confiscated.
While some schools were able to implement a cell phone ban successfully and saw improved classroom engagement, others saw it cause problems between students and teachers. Ultimately, is it more important to ban cell phones or empower students to strike a balance with their devices? Here are takes from educators from both sides – those who support cell phone bans and those who question their effectiveness.
“We have recently implemented a no cell phone policy in our district, which has been life-changing. The kids are working in class, talking to one another, and keeping out of trouble—for the most part.” —High school teacher, Ohio
“We have implemented ‘no cell phones’ during the school day for our middle school and have seen improvements with student interactions, especially at lunchtime with playing board games and in the gym.” —Middle school teacher, Indiana
While these two educators saw an improvement in engagement and face-to-face interactions, other educators pointed out the flaws in implementing a cell phone ban. Here is what they had to say:
“Our school has a ‘no cell phones in the academic classroom’ policy, which is very inconsistently enforced. This makes it difficult to enforce a strict policy in my classroom. In some cases, parents argue about the policy and believe their children should be allowed access to their phones at all times.” — High school teacher, Illinois
“Our school won’t enforce a cell phone policy building-wide but wants each class to have an individual plan. The staff feels like a schoolwide phone policy is administrative work. Ultimately, we don’t have any enforceable cell phone policy. This is directly impacting students’ progress.” —High school teacher, Washington state
“Phones cannot be policed unless the school administration has a strict no cell phone use policy with consequences. Nobody wants to touch the student’s property, and often students disregard requests to put it away. It’s impossible as a teacher to compete with the allure and addiction to the cell phone. It’s constantly alerting them, pinging, chiming, and crying for their attention.” —Middle school teacher, New York
“Our schedule is complex and includes physically and mentally draining 90-minute blocks. No phone policy is new but adds a layer of tension [between] me and my students.” —High school teacher, Virginia
Empowering students to strike a balance with their devices
Some educators saw classroom engagement improve after implementing a cell phone ban. However, it’s important, regardless of a phone ban, that students can strike a balance with their devices to be productive in and out of the classroom. For students, finding this balance means making sure the time spent on phones doesn’t take away from other activities, like learning in class. Cell phones and other devices provide students with a great opportunity to connect with others and learn about global events, but when used unchecked, they can be a distraction. As a result, it’s essential that while students use technology to their advantage, they also know when and how to put their devices away.
Here are some tips to empower students to strike a balance with their phones, in and out of the classroom:
How educators can empower students to strike a balance with their phones:
- Establish Clear Policies: Educators can work with school administrations to establish clear and consistent cell phone policies. Communicating these rules to students and parents is crucial for creating a shared understanding of expectations.
- Teach Strategies to Strike a Balance: Huddle with students on different ways to strike a balance with their devices, such as utilizing Do Not Disturb, setting screentime goals, creating tech-free times while working, and keeping your phone in a separate room at bedtime.
- Model Healthy Behavior: Students can’t be what they can’t see. Demonstrating a healthy relationship with technology and prioritizing face-to-face interactions sends a powerful message to students about striking a balance.
- Encourage Mindful Use: Foster a culture of mindful technology use. Encourage students to be intentional about when and how they use their cell phones, especially during class.
Learning to strike a balance with devices takes time and is not always easy. It’s important to remember to be patient with your students while modeling what students should do with their phones during class time. To help your students strike a balance with their devices, huddle with your students on a classroom tech policy that everyone can agree on, and help students avoid digital distractions.
#WinAtSocial Huddle Question
Huddle with your students
Our devices provide us with so many opportunities we didn’t have 20 years ago. We can connect with friends more easily, stream millions of videos, play games to help us reduce stress, and gather tons of information right at our fingertips. These devices can be powerful tools, but when used unchecked they can be a distraction from achieving our goals, like getting work done, spending in-person time with loved ones, and even getting enough sleep. So, what are some ways you can strike a balance with your devices to focus on the tasks you complete on a daily basis?
The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in equipping students, families, and educators with modern life skills to impact learning, well-being, and students’ futures. Through #WinAtSocial, our interactive, peer-to-peer learning platform, we integrate teacher PD, family resources, student voice insights, and more to empower entire school communities to make positive choices online and offline. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach essential skills while capturing student voice and actionable insights for educators. These insights help educators maintain a healthy school culture, foster high-impact teaching, and build meaningful relationships with families. Our unique, student-respected approach empowers and equips students authentically, enabling our solution to increase classroom participation and improve student-teacher relationships. Through our one-of-a-kind lesson development process, we create lessons for a variety of core and elective classes, incorporating timely topics such as social media, A.I., screen time, misinformation, and current events to help schools stay proactive in supporting student health, happiness, and academic success.