State Senator: Michigan Schools Must Tackle Cellphone Distractions

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As cellphones continue to disrupt classroom environments, State Sen. Thomas Albert proposes legislation that would require school districts to adopt policies on their use.

Tackling the Impact of Cellphones on Learning and Mental Health

In a recent column, State Sen. Thomas Albert highlighted the growing problem of cellphone usage in Michigan’s classrooms, noting how the devices contribute to distractions, hinder academic performance, and exacerbate mental health issues among students. Albert’s concerns come as schools across the country face challenges in maintaining student focus and recovering learning losses from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Albert pointed to a Common Sense Media study in partnership with University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, which found that teens receive an average of 237 notifications on their phones daily, with about a quarter of those coming during school hours. He emphasized the detrimental effects of these constant distractions on both academic achievement and student well-being.

Local Solutions Over Statewide Mandates

While acknowledging the need to address cellphone usage in schools, Albert does not support a one-size-fits-all statewide policy. Instead, he proposes that individual school districts, with input from parents, should have the autonomy to create their own cellphone policies that fit their specific needs. He stresses that each district must weigh the balance between restricting phones and addressing potential concerns, such as the ability for students to communicate during emergencies.

In his view, the state’s role is to ensure that school districts are actively confronting this issue. To that end, Albert has introduced legislation that would require every Michigan school district to establish a policy on cellphone use in classrooms in order to qualify for mental health grant funding. Schools that permit phones in class would need to explain their reasoning to the state, ensuring transparency and accountability.

A Step Toward Better Academic and Mental Health Outcomes

Albert frames the regulation of cellphones in classrooms as a crucial element in improving both educational outcomes and mental health support for students. By encouraging school districts to take a stand on the issue, he believes Michigan can better invest in its students’ futures, helping them to focus in the classroom and reduce the harmful effects of social media and other smartphone distractions.

“The time has come for us to meet real problems head-on,” Albert writes. “Cellphone usage in classrooms is one of those problems, and we must address it for the benefit of our kids.”

State Sen. Thomas Albert represents the 18th District, which includes Barry County and portions of Allegan, Calhoun, Kalamazoo, Kent, and Ionia counties.

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