Across U.S. classrooms, the debate over cellphone usage is taking center stage, igniting discussions among educators, students, and policymakers alike. Tensions run high as schools grapple with finding the right balance between allowing the freedom of communication and minimizing distractions. Recent school visits by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and Education Secretary Nellie Tayloe Sanders to local districts showcased varying approaches to cellphone policies, as students share their personal experiences and concerns surrounding the issue.
At Bixby Public Schools, for example, students are not allowed to use their cellphones during school hours if they are ninth graders or below. This policy has had its critics and supporters, with students like Carter Storts initially finding the absence of their phones challenging. Nonetheless, Carter has come to appreciate the rule as it promotes her ability to focus during class and enjoy quality family time away from screens. “It helps my ability to focus and be able to focus on one task,” she said. “Also outside of school... I don’t feel the need to check my phone all the time.”
The Bixby Ninth Grade Center has noted similar feedback from students who feel their once heightened anxiety over social media interactions has lessened. During Stitt and Sanders' visit, students reported feeling more engaged and less distracted. Teachers at Bixby have echoed these sentiments, claiming the reduction of phone usage has created more interactive classroom environments. No longer drowned out by the notifications of smartphones, they describe students as being more attentive and present.
“They’re not even checking their phones,” reported Bixby Middle School teacher Simon MacFarlane during the roundtable. “It’s night and day for us.” This perspective strikes at the heart of the debate on whether children should have unrestricted access to mobile devices during school hours. According to teaching staff, the proliferation of cellphones has led to increased distractions and disengagement from classroom activities.
At Jenks High School, students take advantage of rules allowing cellphone usage between classes, which they argue is necessary for communication with parents and coordinating schedules, particularly during emergencies. Senior Addison Dodder expressed the importance of having access to her phone during school when her mother's health was declining and she wanted to remain informed. “For [that kind] of stuff, it’s important to have access... not necessarily to check Instagram but to stay connected with family,” she stated.
Superintendent Stacey Butterfield of Jenks sees the necessity of maintaining some flexibility around cellphone policies, noting how restrictive policies can be counterproductive. With growing interest from legislators aiming to create unified cellphone restrictions for Oklahoma's schools, Butterfield points out the need for policies to cater to diverse student populations.
"I think having some legislation could be helpful... but we’ve got to be careful, as one size does not fit all,” she explained. Several nearby states are proactively implementing cellphone restrictions as they see the necessity to address rising mental health issues believed to be tied to device overuse among students.
Further north, at Des Moines' Hoover High School, they’ve recently adopted stricter cellphone protocols as part of their
