Pennsylvania Bill Aims to Ban Cell Phones in Schools from Bell to Bell
A bipartisan proposal that would prohibit the use of cell phones during school hours has received a significant boost, moving forward with the support of both Republican and Democratic lawmakers. The legislation aims to reduce distractions and promote learning among students, citing studies linking excessive phone use to poor academic performance.
The bill's sponsor, Senator Devlin Robinson (R-Allegheny), expressed concern that schools are wasting resources on technology when students can't focus due to their phones. He emphasized the need for kids to pay attention in class and engage with each other during free periods.
Senator Steven Santarsiero (D-Bucks) echoed this sentiment, noting that cell phone addiction is a major issue affecting not just children but also adults. "Combining a pocket-sized handheld computer with addictive apps creates 'the perfect storm' that disrupts learning," he said.
While some parents have expressed concerns about contacting their children during emergencies, Santarsiero shared a personal experience from 17 years ago where texting rumors during a school lockdown made it difficult for him to calm down students. "These things are not helpful in those circumstances; they are an impediment," he emphasized.
The bill includes exceptions for students with individualized learning plans or other medical needs and allows teachers to request administrative support to incorporate devices into lesson plans.
With the backing of Governor Josh Shapiro, 45 lawmakers voted in favor of the proposal, with only one senator opposing it. The legislation is part of a growing trend, with over three dozen states and Washington D.C. enacting phone restrictions for students.
Kelly Marsh, a mother of three, praised the bill as a "gold standard" solution to address the issue of excessive screen time among students. She stated that teachers, kids, and parents are struggling to manage this problem, making legislation like this an important first step towards cultural change.
The Pennsylvania Capital-Star notes that this bill is part of States Newsroom's nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. The newspaper maintains editorial independence, ensuring that their reporting remains unbiased and focused on providing accurate information to the public.
A bipartisan proposal that would prohibit the use of cell phones during school hours has received a significant boost, moving forward with the support of both Republican and Democratic lawmakers. The legislation aims to reduce distractions and promote learning among students, citing studies linking excessive phone use to poor academic performance.
The bill's sponsor, Senator Devlin Robinson (R-Allegheny), expressed concern that schools are wasting resources on technology when students can't focus due to their phones. He emphasized the need for kids to pay attention in class and engage with each other during free periods.
Senator Steven Santarsiero (D-Bucks) echoed this sentiment, noting that cell phone addiction is a major issue affecting not just children but also adults. "Combining a pocket-sized handheld computer with addictive apps creates 'the perfect storm' that disrupts learning," he said.
While some parents have expressed concerns about contacting their children during emergencies, Santarsiero shared a personal experience from 17 years ago where texting rumors during a school lockdown made it difficult for him to calm down students. "These things are not helpful in those circumstances; they are an impediment," he emphasized.
The bill includes exceptions for students with individualized learning plans or other medical needs and allows teachers to request administrative support to incorporate devices into lesson plans.
With the backing of Governor Josh Shapiro, 45 lawmakers voted in favor of the proposal, with only one senator opposing it. The legislation is part of a growing trend, with over three dozen states and Washington D.C. enacting phone restrictions for students.
Kelly Marsh, a mother of three, praised the bill as a "gold standard" solution to address the issue of excessive screen time among students. She stated that teachers, kids, and parents are struggling to manage this problem, making legislation like this an important first step towards cultural change.
The Pennsylvania Capital-Star notes that this bill is part of States Newsroom's nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. The newspaper maintains editorial independence, ensuring that their reporting remains unbiased and focused on providing accurate information to the public.
Can you imagine if we were all forced to put our phones in school lockers like they do at prison... just kidding ( kind of ) 
. Seriously though, I think this bill is a great idea! I mean, who needs their phone during class when you've got math problems and essays to tackle 
. But on a more serious note, it's crazy how much our phones can distract us from the world around us. My niece was trying to learn her ABCs last year, but kept playing with her tablet 
. It's time for us to put our phones away and focus on what really matters – education 
! 
I mean, think about it... schools are trying to learn stuff, right? And everyone's glued to their screens all day 
. It's like, can't we put our phones away for a little while and focus on each other? 
Kids need to develop some social skills too, not just online ones 
. I'm not saying teachers shouldn't use technology, but maybe they should be using it less in class... or setting rules about phone time like in school 
.
. And what's wrong with texting a parent during an emergency? It's not like the schools are going to leave us in the dark 
.
. What do you guys think... should we put our phones away for school hours or what? 
I think not...
I mean, what's wrong with letting kids have their phones during lunch or between classes? It's like they're gonna forget how to interact with each other face-to-face or something 
also, aren't teachers kinda already struggling with managing screen time in class without taking away phones altogether? maybe they need some training or somethin' 
Kids these days are glued to their phones like they're oxygen or something! Its no wonder they cant focus during class. My niece is one of those kids who's always on her phone, even during recess. She just cant seem to put it down. Im not saying its all bad though - I get that some students need devices for learning purposes. But lets find a balance, you know? Like teachers can use them in lessons or something. This bill seems like a good start. Plus, its about time our politicians started taking the issue seriously. We should see more of this in other states too! 
*Adulting Struggle GIF*
*Teacher-Student Bond GIF*
having exceptions for students with special needs is a good start, but let's also be realistic here... some kids will try to sneak in a quick scroll anyway. 
I remember when we used to have those annoying school bells and didn't need to keep an eye on our phones during class... 
. And what about kids who use their phones for note-taking or research during class? That's like, super helpful for them 
... but maybe the school isn't prepared to handle that kind of thing?