In response to a new government law, Ohio School Districts have started to enforce strict limits on cell phone use during school hours. Has this change been beneficial to students throughout the school?
Across the state of Ohio there have been many diverse perspectives and opinions on banning cell phone use during the school day. Some can argue that it’s beneficial because it limits the amount of distractions, however others can argue that banning cell phone use is harmful because it could be a safety issue.
“I kind of like the new policy, it gives me a chance to work with other people in a distraction free environment,” Senior class officer, Addie Berrios said.
The goal of limiting cell phone use during the day has many benefits such as increased focus, less cheating, enhanced social interaction, and improving mental health. When kids always have access to be near their phones, they will always go on it because that is how society is nowadays. This policy aims to redirect students’ focus into their learning progressions rather than cell phones. It removes the temptation for students to check their social media, play games, or text.
“Our priority is to ensure that Ohio’s students have every opportunity to succeed academically, and this law is a crucial part of that,” stated Ohio Governor Mike DeWine in the publication of his new House Bill.
Students are on their phones a lot more than tey realize in a day and the first step to becoming more engaged in a social life is recognizing that problem. Studies have shown that the students who are less distracted by their phones are more likely to be participative in class and retain information better. The more we start to adapt to limiting cell phone use in the classroom, that will carry on out into our individual and social lives.
However there are some contradicting opinions to this policy. Many students bring the argument of safety issues into this conversation of limiting cell phone use and having to use the cellphone caddies in class.
Anonymous responses through a survey about the new phone policy here at Lake Middle High School believe that the policy is not beneficial because they want to be able to text their parents in case of emergency. Also, a lot of responses showed students are greatly provoked about not being able to listen to music because they say it increases their focus. Students believe that there are bigger issues to focus on rather than our use of cellphones in a day.
This new policy set in place to limit cell phone use in efforts to enhance academic performance to migrate away from a major distraction in the classroom. As schools across Ohio begin to adapt to this change, will we continue to see positive outcomes or will the students contradicting opinions overpower a new fostered environment in schools?
