School shooting revives issue of cellphones in class

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Wednesday’s tragic Apalachee High School shooting in Georgia is now shining an even brighter light on the debate over cellphones in classrooms.

Do students need phones in classrooms and would they help in emergency situations?

One Tennessee state lawmaker in Memphis says cell phones in schools are also an important conversation.

“There’s a school shooting at your child’s school and you cannot communicate. That has to the longest time in your life, the worst period of time,” state Rep. Antonio Parkinson said.

Parkinson says some Tennessee lawmakers plan to propose a bill to stop students from using mobile phones on campus.

“I’m supporting all the rules that say you can’t have your phone while instruction is going on, but I’m not with and will never support you taking the phone until these policies that allow and foster these school shootings is done away with,” Parkinson said.

Starting in June, students in grades 5-12 in Marshall County are now required to put their phones, smartwatches, and other devices in magnetically sealed pouches.

For now, there is no statewide ban on cellphones in Tennessee or Mississippi.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.