US states want to ban phones in schools. It might be a challenge

As a middle-school teacher, Nancy Streit understands the challenge of competing with a smartphone for a child's attention. However, as a mother, she recognizes the necessity of these devices during emergencies. 'It’s mostly the parents calling,' she says, noting that while she doesn't permit phone use in her classroom, students often find ways to bypass the rules. The Los Angeles school district, where Ms. Streit teaches, is the second largest in the country and has recently banned smartphone use in schools. This move is part of a growing trend as more states and schools across the US grapple with managing children's increasing dependency on their devices. New York and California, two of the most populous US states, are considering new state-wide policies on the issue. Earlier this week, California Governor Gavin Newsom called for a ban on smartphones in classrooms and announced plans to collaborate with legislators on a policy. In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul has advocated for a similar law. This spring, Indiana's governor signed into law a classroom ban set to begin in the autumn. These efforts represent the latest chapter in a long-standing debate over regulating smartphone use in schools, coinciding with rising concerns about youth mental health in the wake of the pandemic. Most US schools already have some form of phone policy. Approximately 76% of schools prohibited non-academic phone use during the 2021-2022 school year. However, the latest wave of regulations aims to go further. Raphaela Hodges, a grade six teacher at a Los Angeles school, has observed a troubling and significant change in how children socialize. 'When they’re uncomfortable, they pick up the phone,' she told the BBC. This issue has garnered rare bipartisan support, with legislators in both Republican and Democratic-controlled states pursuing similar policies. Last year, Florida implemented a state law requiring school districts to ban phones from classrooms and block access to social media on school wi-fi. The law also mandates that schools 'provide instruction on the social, emotional, and physical effects of social media. ' Individual districts in states such as Maine and Virginia are also enacting stricter rules regarding phone use, as are provinces in Canada, including Ontario and Alberta. The debate over phones in schools has persisted for nearly as long as the devices have existed, with little consensus and much controversy. Since the 1980s, the US has seen several attempts to ban communication devices from classrooms. Early critics were concerned about the potential of phones to distract students and their association with the drug trade. However, the 1999 shooting at Colorado’s Columbine High School, which resulted in 13 deaths, prompted some parents and schools to reconsider phones as essential communication tools during emergencies. States subsequently relaxed the rules, including California, which repealed a phone ban in 2002. The debate was reignited as schools recognized phones as growing distractions, tools for cyberbullying, and potential means for students to cheat on assignments. New York City, which has over one million students, initially enforced a strict ban but reversed the policy in 2015, allowing individual schools to set their own rules. The current wave of policies emerges as experts voice concerns about student mental health and social media use. On Monday, one of America's top health officials called for warning labels similar to those on cigarette boxes for social media platforms. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy argued that social media increases the risk of children experiencing anxiety and depression symptoms, although research on the topic has been mixed. 'You've got a situation where kids are not only trying to learn, but they're simultaneously on their phones, texting their friends, replying to messages on social media, and scrolling through their feeds,' Dr. Murthy told the BBC. 'It makes it very difficult not only to learn but also to build relationships and friendships in school. ' Adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression, according to a 2019 study frequently cited by federal health offices. Will the policy shift be effective? Schools have historically struggled to balance safety and limiting the allure of social media. Ken Trump, president of the National School Safety and Security Services, stated that policies would not succeed without strong community consensus and consistent enforcement. 'There’s a lot more to it than the average parent or other person looking from afar would think. It’s a wicked problem with many complexities,' said Mr. Trump. In Los Angeles, board members voted on Tuesday to ban the devices starting next year. However, the specifics of how the policy will be implemented remain unclear. Alyssa, an 18-year-old from Los Angeles, where many schools have thousands of students, told the BBC she couldn't imagine high school without a phone. 'We have huge campuses – no one can monitor all that,' she said. 'There are tons of areas where you can go and not be seen.