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Morrisey signs bill banning cell phones in schools

Also signs bill requiring ‘In God We Trust’ in schools, colleges

(Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

CHARLESTON — Making good on a promise made during his first State of the State address, Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed a bill Tuesday to ban the use of cell phones and other personal electronic devices in K-12 classrooms, as well as requiring schools and colleges to display the U.S. motto.

Morrisey traveled to Lincoln Middle School in Shinnston Tuesday morning to sign two school-related pieces of legislation, including House Bill 2003, prohibiting cell phones in class.

The bill prohibits students from accessing cell phones and other personal electronic devices during instructional time and requires county boards of education to implement policies outlining device storage during the school day and establishing consequences for violations.

County boards are also required to establish protocols for parent-student communication that avoids classroom disruption. Exemptions are allowed for documented medical needs, individual education plans and 504 plans, or approved work-based learning programs.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 27 states and Puerto Rico have introduced legislation to ban cell phone use in schools since 2023, with nine states implementing bans. State boards of education and other education regulatory bodies in 11 states have also acted regarding cell phone use in the classroom.

“I think this is going to make a significant difference for teachers and students,” Morrisey said. “We know that the use of personal electronic devices in the classroom increases distractions, academic misconduct and bullying and overall, it creates a negative learning environment.

“There’s also concern that the mental health of students with unfettered access to cell phones at all hours of the day, that’s a problem,” Morrisey continued. “We’ve read about some of the addictive nature of those kinds of activity. I think the constant use of phones in day-to-day life, that’s actually been shown to limit age-appropriate development of relationships, of social skills, and other necessary (skills) to be successful.”

Morrisey also signed Senate Bill 280, requiring the display of the national motto “In God We Trust” in K-12 and higher education facilities.

Under the bill, public schools and colleges/universities must display a framed copy or durable poster of the motto along with the U.S. flag centered under the motto in a common area of the main building accessible to the public, though only private funds can be used to purchase the signage.

“We need to teach our kids about the history of America, the ideals, the values and the beliefs that led to the founding of the greatest nation in the history of the world,” Morrisey said. “Our students will learn that here in West Virginia, we do value God, family and country.”

The bill’s lead sponsor, Sen. Mike Azinger, R-Wood, has introduced similar legislation for three years in a row, but this is the first year the bill has completed the legislative process.

“You learn at the Capitol that perseverance is the quality you have to have with bills, because they die,” Azinger said. “Everyone says don’t get married to bills down there. It’s impossible not to get married to bills.”

“In God We Trust” has been the U.S. motto since 1956 under President Dwight D. Eisenhower and established by Congress. The phrase has been used on U.S. currency and postal stamps. The motto was reaffirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2006 and the U.S. House of Representatives in 2011.

“If America stays with that motto in our hearts and West Virginia stays with that motto in our hearts, we’ll be OK,” Azinger said. “That is our founding. Our founding was a Christian founding. … The Great Awakening was the midwife of the American Revolution. That’s where the idea, the concept of freedom came from; from God, in scripture.”

The use of “In God We Trust” has come under criticism from time to time by groups who believe it violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. But the federal courts have upheld the constitutional use of the national motto.

“It’s supposed to be freedom of religion, not freedom from religion, and that’s the thing we need,” said Senate Majority Whip Jay Taylor, R-Taylor. “Whatever religion they decide to practice, they have that freedom, and it’s not that we’re trying to keep a religion away from them. It’s that we’re giving them the freedom to believe how they want to, and that’s what this bill will show.”

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