Several parents ask for for cell phone ban at Wake County Schools

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Tuesday, several parents will ask the Wake County School board to ban cell phones in Wake County Public Schools, saying phones are distracting, addicting, and interfering with social relationships.

CBS 17 spoke with a former teacher who said many students were more focused on their phones than listening in class. “It was a constant battle,” said Angela Belcher Epps. “They’re tied to them. They don’t want to relinquish them, so it causes a lot of conflict between the educator and the student.”

Nicole Stewart and several other parents are asking the Wake County School Board to ban cell phones in schools.

Right now, it’s up to individual schools to make policies about if and when phones can be used. Stewart says that leaves much of the enforcement up to teachers, who already have their hands full. Moreover, she says constant use of cell phones and social media just isn’t good for kids. “Get the phones out of the school,” she said. “Get the distraction out of their hand. We all know the technology is addictive for adults and it’s definitely addictive for kids’ brains that are still developing.”

But some people worry that students won’t be able to contact their families in an emergency and say there are times students need phones in school. “A good reason would be access in case something happens,” said Kayla Layden, who noted that she and her classmates had phones in high school. “I know there’s been a lot of fights, shootings, things like that at that age in high school.”

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently issued an executive order aimed at banning or limiting cell phone use in class, but also creating protocols allowing parents to contact their children in an emergency.

Stewart hopes the school board will look into creating a policy here in Wake County. She will bring up the issue during the public comment portion of Tuesday night’s meeting.

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