(MOV Parent - Hand in Hand with Patrick Ward - Graphic Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

A few weeks ago the board for the second largest school district in the country, Los Angeles Unified School District, voted to ban students’ cell phone use during the school day. Within days, the chancellor for the largest school district, New York City Public Schools, also announced that they are enacting a cell phone ban. When asked by local reporters from WNYW about this ban, Chancellor David Banks was quoted to say “They’re not just a distraction; kids are fully addicted now to phones.”

The policies that these school districts are putting in place will fully remove students’ access to their phones as well as block all access to social media platforms during the school day. The methods have yet to be decided, but could include the use of magnetic pouches, phone lockers or technological measures. Pouches, like the Yondr pouch marketed by overyondr.com allow a student to keep the phone in their possession but render it inoperable until the pouch is opened at the end of the day. Some readers may have already had experiences with these pouches as they are increasingly used at concert venues.

Doesn’t this make you wonder what the big deal is about cell phone use by students during school hours? Doesn’t this further make you wonder what the school districts in the MOV are doing about this?

Research is amassing overwhelming evidence that students are accessing social media and texting throughout the school day despite whatever policies exist and this use is not for educational purposes. This is extremely detrimental to students. Essentially, it acts like a mental parasite that siphons off their attention and ability to learn. Further, studies have verified that even if a student is not using their phone, they are distracted by notifications and also easily distracted by others’ phone use. Heavy phone users have significantly lower GPAs compared to minimal users. And, as I’ve pointed out several times in past articles, social media use by teens is associated with increased anxiety, depression and risk of self-harm. This is so serious that the Surgeon General has called for a warning label to be affixed to all social media platforms!

The Wood County school district has a clearly spelled out cell phone policy that also includes responses to violations of the policy. For middle and high school, the policy states that personal communication devices (PCDs) “… may only be used in classrooms for educational purposes and only after approval has been given by the school principal and/or classroom teacher. PCD use is always prohibited in locker rooms, shower facilities, bathrooms and any other area of the school in which students are or may be disrobing or be in a state of undress (e.g., changing room for students in a school play).” Violations can run from a verbal warning to suspension and even expulsion. This policy is typical for our area. While it is restrictive and attempts to address the problem, it is nearly impossible to enforce.

In talking with teachers, most say they are constantly redirecting students and that giving verbal warnings is like playing whack-a-mole. One teacher who has banned all cell phone use during class said that her high school students hassle her relentlessly for access to their phones. This is a losing battle for teachers and also for education as a whole.

Many students I have talked with are loathe to use the bathrooms or locker rooms because, despite the policies, cell phones are used to take pictures in these places for the purposes of online bullying and hazing. This is a common, everyday occurrence in our schools. It’s obvious that students can’t handle the use of phones in schools, and that teachers can’t effectively manage their classrooms as a result. We need stronger policies in our schools.

School districts that have already had cell phone bans in place are seeing hopeful signs that they have made the right decision.

Studies show that students in schools with cell phone bans have fewer visits to mental health professionals, fewer incidents of bullying and higher overall GPAs. These schools experience less social drama and better face to face student interactions. Teachers say that the cafeteria is louder, but they see this as a good sign. These findings are the strongest for schools from lower socioeconomic areas.

“What if my child needs to contact me?” some parents might ask. Well, how did it work back in 1990? The school office called the parent, or the student used the office phone. All schools still have an office with a secretary, so problem solved. We have to remember that schools operated smoothly before the internet and cell phones. Kids got dropped off and picked up just as well then as they do now. If plans change, call the school office instead of texting your child. It’s like breaking any habit — it’s going to be miserable at first. But then the benefits of being free from that habit begin to emerge.

There is a growing movement toward banning phones and preventing access to social media at school. The outcomes of such actions are showing positive results in students’ mental health and academic performance. Conversely, research is consistently showing that constant phone use and exposure to social media is detrimental to children’s mental health and social relationships. This is especially true for children under 16 years old. Based on this, the best way we can help our children succeed is to create limits and boundaries for healthy development.

I’ll conclude with a big request. If you agree that a cell phone ban would be beneficial for your child’s school, please contact your school board and let them know. Tell them you want a stronger policy that will help your child’s entire school become more functional and effective. Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist who has written extensively about the effects of cell phones on kids, considers cell phones at school a public health emergency because they impede learning and stunt social development. Call your school board. Encourage them to take the needed steps to stop the insanity.

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Patrick Ward, Ph.D., is a marriage and family therapist in Parkersburg.