High schools should adopt ‘bell-to-bell’ cellphone ban

The San Mateo Union High School District is now undergoing a discussion on whether cellphones or other similar devices should be banned “bell to bell” throughout the district or if individual schools and their administrations should come up with individualized policies. Local control has its merits, but there is something to be said for a uniform policy that covers all schools. The devices should be banned from bell to bell, but allowed to be in a bag or pocket of a student. It’s a cleaner policy in that it will be known the devices cannot be used during school hours for any purpose, but easier than having to lock them in a pouch that costs money and takes time. Students can keep their devices on them, and they can be accessed in emergencies. Some will find a way to use them, but most will not. Enforcement will be the same as for any other school rule.

Allowing students to use them at various times during the day presents issues. First, schools will have to block certain social media sites and other websites, and possibly even texting, and the technological challenges to that are many. Second, while many students will use them responsibly during breaks, others will not.

Third, the point of not having access during breaks means that students will engage with one another face to face and not use the phone as a way to be excluded either by choice or by others.

Fourth, schools are about teaching and part of that teaching is life skills. One life skill is navigating the world without a device.

Many can say that it is not the duty of our schools to teach students how to responsibly use a tech device, and part of that is true. It is up to parents to establish guidelines and smart use policies for their children. However, schools act as guardians while a student is on campus and part of that responsibility is to act in that student’s best interest and to ensure their behavior is best suited for that environment. There is very little data that show that outside devices such as cellphones aid in learning as long as there is access to computers if work is being done electronically. And school is a place of learning.

One could argue cellphones are part of daily life and are useful tools for work and social interaction. True, but they are not essential tools. What is essential is personal interaction and attention paid to teachers. Eliminating a cellphone means one less distraction. Teaching how to live life, do work and interact with others without one should be seen as an essential part of the school environment.

Cellphone and social media addiction is real. School officials should not be charged with solving all of society’s ills nor should they take the place of the parent. No school policy will eliminate cellphone or social media addiction. It may not be the school’s responsibility to solve society’s problems, but it doesn’t mean it should still contribute to them.

School officials can take part in eliminating cellphones or other devices from being part of the education environment and focus on teaching subject matter that we have collectively decided will best prepare students for the next step after high school.

Quick story. An intern at the Daily Journal who attended San Mateo High School wrote a Student News column bashing the cellphone prohibition before it went into effect. She described a sense of despair at not being able to complete her homework, connect with others or do any other task that was found on that particular screen. A few months after the policy went into effect, she wrote another piece in which she described the tremendous sense of relief at not having access to her cellphone during school hours. Her stress levels went down, she was able to engage with others more freely and her mental health improved.

This is one anecdote. But it is a real one.

Having one districtwide policy — a bell-to-bell ban — is the clearest and most straightforward approach. This is an opportunity for the adults to be bold, take a stand and make a good decision for our kids. It will take some doing, but we must give this next generation the chance to live, engage and learn without devices.