Your Oregon News asked readers whether phones should be allowed at schools. Many readers said phones are distracting in schools; others said kids need them for safety in case of an emergency like a school shooting or anxiety attack. Some readers pointed to cell phones as factor in kids' mental health.
Nearly 60% of respondents said cell phones should not be allowed in schools at all. About 31% said there should be limited cell phone use allowed. About 7% said phones should be allowed everywhere in schools with no limitations.
About 47% of respondents are involved in an Oregon school district as a parent, and 31% said they are an educator. Another 18% said they were formerly involved with an Oregon school district but are no longer, and 10% said they are not involved at all.
Daycare workers, supporting organizations, and grandparents also self-reported as respondents.
About 93% of all respondents said they are involved in a public school district, with 4% in private schools, 3% in online schools, and 0.6% homeschooled. One reader said they are involved a charter school.
Here’s what Your Oregon News readers are saying about cell phone use in schools:
Phones are a distraction in schools
“Phones add distraction and decrease attention.”
“Phones are a huge and dangerous distraction. Schools have phones for emergencies. There isn't a way that students could have limited access, and until the technology exists to ensure this 100%, no phones.”
“Phones cause distractions and cheating, just for a start.”
“They are just too distracting. Kids will try and check them way to often. Just think how often most adults look at the phone every hour. I have asked students questions in class and because they are hiding ear buds they don't hear anything.”
"Teachers cannot be expected to do their very hard jobs while policing cell phone use.”
“Phones cause bullying, anxiety and distraction.”
“Phones are a terrible, awful distraction. They are one of the biggest problems in schools other than enabling parents, gun violence, and reactionary school boards.”
“Phones are an unnecessary distraction. I am now in a district (as a substitute teacher) that has banned phones and the positive change in student engagement is obvious. The school office phone is always available for emergencies and parent contact throughout the school day. Chromebooks are just as bad however-many students play games or watch You Tube in class vs following the assignment or engaging in the curriculum.”
“Phones are distracting and lead to a lack of social skills.”
“Students are constantly distracted by phones and their availability increases conflicts between students.”
“Students are too distracted and do not know how to socialize face to face. It's also difficult to teach when I'm competing with students looking at their phone.”
“When I was in school, we left our phones in our locker. No distractions, no social media, no bullying phone related.”
“100% phones should not be allowed in classrooms. All teachers have to adhere to holding kids accountable or it won't work.”
“Students spend hours each day (outside of school) watching social media and video clips. This has created an expectation that all information can be accessed in soundbites and 30 second snips. Students have no stamina for learning anything of depth. Students are so addicted to looking at a screen that if it is anywhere near them, they won't avoid it.”
“Phones are incredibly distracting and disruptive in a classroom.”
“They are a distraction and too addictive.”
“Cell phones/smart watches are a distraction from the emotional/social and academic learning that should be going on in schools. Our kids need to have face-to-face interactions, and cell phones and social media only ramp up anxiety and bullying."
Schools are not safe
“With the increase in school shootings and bomb threats m nationwide, students should be able to have their phones in case of an emergency. And with an increase of all sorts of cases of sexual cases with students or harassment in general they should be able to collect possible evidence for their case.”
“On one hand: No, my child was recorded with a mobile phone over the bathroom stall wall at school and it was posted and spread to TikTok and SnapChat, and was extremely traumatizing. Absolutely nothing good will come out of a bunch of peri-pubescent children having free access to phones and social media. On the other hand, due to violence at American schools, I live in fear of something horrible happening and my kid can't contact me. Only simple phones should be allowed: no smart phones, and no social media. This seems to me like the sweet spot that would address both issues.”
“If there's an emergency, I want to be able to get a hold of my kid or have them get a hold of me.”
“If my child needs me, it is easier to contact each other instead having the office staff deliver messages.”
“This is a world where phones are part of our everyday lives, there really isn’t anywhere phones are not allowed, educators need to embrace that. Plus there are safety issues, I feel much better knowing my kids can contact me anytime.”
“This is the world we live in. We need to prepare kids for the world as it is. Phones are everywhere. It’s a huge waste of time for teachers to be chasing kids about phones all day. And kids should have a phone on them in case of a school shooting.”
"We have had issues where it was critical that we get in touch with our student immediately.”
“As a mom of kids in different ages and schools, it is important to me to be able to contact them in case of an emergency. And heaven forbid if there’s an incident I would like my child to be able to get a hold of me and let me know that she or he is OK, and no harm has come. In case of an emergency, I would also like to be the one that’s able to comfort my child.”
“When I was in school, I needed to be in contact with my mother, who was sick and in the hospital all the time, and my father just in case. Everyone’s situation is different”
“In an emergency situation I want to be able to contact my child to ensure they are ok!”
“I want my child to get a hold of me if needed. Kids are no longer safe in schools."
“Yes due to case of emergency and that means anything!”
“Our kids aren’t safe anymore in school. What if there is some sort of emergency. Just refer back to Texas. Those small kids called 911. God forbid something like this were to happen here.”
“Phones should be allowed for emergencies only.”
“Until this country can guarantee the safety of our kids in schools, why would we deny them access to communication to parents, emergency services and peers.”
“The schools no longer communicate with parents regarding all issues/concerns and I have very little trust in their ability to protect my child.”
“My kids call me when they're having an anxiety attack and then I can let someone know in the school system. My kids use it as a fidget to drown out some noise by listening to music. And if there is a safety concern, they should be able to call 911 or call their parents to come and help or call the school system to come and help.”
Kids don't need phones
“Kids won't listen, so the only way to do it is take phones away completely, to get them used to socialization again.”
“In high school students need phones for some things. Other grades I would say no. They are much too distracting for you get students. Seniors need them especially when working in things for postsecondary education. It would be impossible for them to complete some of the requirements.”
“Phones cause too much drama with kids texting, taking pictures, harassment, and such.”
“I watched kids walking the halls with their heads down engaged on phones, not each other. Limited verbal interaction, even though they were texting someone walking next to them. They are losing the ability to problem solve based on real conversation. If Mom needs to get a message to their child she can call the office rather than disrupt the student multiple times.”
“Phones are unnecessary for students in school."
“Children can not use phones responsibly.”
“There is just no reason for youth to have a phone at school.”
“Phones bring no educational value.”
“If a parent needs to get ahold of their kid they can call the school. It is a complete distraction and not fair to the teachers and kids are already addicted to phones so lets force some phone free time to use their imagination and creativity.
“If the parents need to get ahold of a kid or vice versa they can go to the school office.
“Phones are causing kids to be antisocial and disengaged in class and forcing disruptive behavior. They are already creating a disregulated world in children, they need to learn."
“Kids don't need phones.”
Phones are addicting
“Humans are addicted to screens. Kids are very distracted by phones and cannot learn when their phones are accessible.”
“Phone are programed to demand attention and create addiction. Learning can't occur when a student has their mind on their phone.”
“Growing evidence indicates just how bad social media, and the instant access to it, is for our children. It wasn't until the early/mid 1990's that the US really began cracking down on children using tobacco. This phenomenon is so harmful to our children that we can't take decades to enact regulations and policies regarding the use of social media and smart phones for kids.”
"The data shows us that smartphone use is harmful to adolescent brains. We have been through this before with environmental toxins, cigarette smoke, and food additives. We would do well to take this evidence seriously. I recommend the book, The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt. Check out www.anxiousgeneration.com"
“Students are addicted to them and they interfere with learning. Teachers shouldn’t have to deal with the world of issues that accompany students having them."
Limited phone use is Ok in schools
“They’re a distraction. They should be off during school hours. Even with a no cell rule, teachers and coaches are using apps as message boards.”
“I think kids should be able to use their phones during passing periods and lunch but never during class time.”
“Ban phones first, then allow limited access.”
“Students are addicted to their phones, it is a huge distraction in the classroom, they can’t focus on their school work, way to much cyber bullying going on, students text each other all day to meet up in bathrooms or another location for illegal activity.”
"Students should not be able to be on them during class. But during breaks should be fine."
"They can be locked up in their lockers, only to be used during free periods. Younger kids don’t need them at all. We need to normalize not having phones all the time.
“Students still need access for communication and schoolwork.”
“Students are using their phones all the time anyway. Banning them is archaic, the education system should change with the times. I’m an elementary teacher, so I don’t run into this problem as much. But I would want my child to have communication to me in an emergency, and be able to track their location. I’d also want them to be focused on their learning, and showing respect to their teacher by putting their phone away. I do think there should be an age limit set though, like phones are allowed to be on the students person from 9th grade and up. Younger students should keep them in their backpack or cubby. Once academic time is over though, if a high school teacher is okay with kids on their phones for the last few minutes of class, that’s fine with me.”
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