Overreach

Efforts to restrict student use of cell phones in school are proving to be effective at the local level, though a proposal by the Nebraska Legislature to implement a statewide cell phone ban raises a whole different set of concerns.
A story on this week’s front page explains the intent behind Legislative Bill 140, a bill introduced at the request of Gov. Jim Pillen which would require all Nebraska public school districts to adopt a policy before the 2025-26 school year. LB 140, as written, would ban the use of electronic communication devices by students while on school property, with some exceptions.
Numerous studies have shown that students who use their phones frequently during school hours tend to have lower academic performance. The constant buzzing, beeping and vibrating can interrupt the flow of teaching and learning, making it difficult for both students and teachers to maintain focus and productivity.
For that and other reasons, school boards and administrators at Aurora, Hampton, Giltner and High Plains schools have all adopted their own policies restricting cell phone use. They vary in some ways, but in general the goal is to provide an environment free from distractions and the constant allure of social media, games and messaging in the classroom.
ANR published a report in November sharing broad support for the new policy in Aurora, including input from students, some of whom expressed relief at having an opportunity to disengage with their phones and focus on classroom content as well as interactions with their teachers and peers. That was refreshing to hear, frankly, but not terribly surprising. As convenient as cell phones have become at providing information and connections at our fingertips, all of us can admit that at times we want and need to disconnect from a digital world that can be all consuming, if not invasive into our private lives.
This week’s report reflected similar feedback from school administrators, who say that restricting cell phone use in the classroom has been generally well received. It may take time, even years, and wisdom gained through age and perspective, but students may eventually thank their schools for silencing their ever-present cell phones during school hours.
LB 140 as originally proposed included language banning students from using cell phones while attending a school function. The mere notion of administrators trying to enforce such a ban at a football game or some other large event is ridiculous. It simply could not be done, for one thing, and for another goes far beyond the concept of trying to create a productive learning environment in the classroom. That language was deleted by amendment and should not have been included in the bill to begin with.
But on a broader scale, the notion that the state needs to mandate a one-size-fits-all policy banning cell phones in school is in itself flawed. We support the concept of local control in general, and this is a perfect example of an issue on which local school boards should be able to set and enforce their own policies as they see fit.
Restricting cell phone use in the classroom is the right thing to do for so many reasons, but it’s an issue best left to the local school board’s discretion.
-- Kurt Johnson