Summary
Florida’s Broward County Public Schools, one of the nation’s largest districts, implemented a cellphone ban across the school day, sparking debate among students, parents, and teachers. The ban affects over 200,000 students.
Proponents, including board member Lori Alhadeff, a Parkland victim’s mother, argue the ban improves focus and safety.
Critics of the ban raise safety concerns, particularly in light of the 2018 Parkland shooting, where cellphones played an important role in communication.
I don’t know how they’re doing it in Florida. My kid’s high school enacted a new phone policy this fall. Every classroom has either one large plastic storage bin, or smaller ones at each group table. When the kids arrive in class, they put their phones in the bins and they don’t come out again until the end of class. Very simple, and from what I’ve heard from the teachers and students, reasonably effective. If there’s an emergency they can be quickly accessed. Meanwhile, the teachers are all reporting a lot more student-to-student interaction, better attention, and less disruptions.