US ONLY: I’m running for school board. If I had a NO phones in school platform, would you be more likely to vote for me?

Phones are super distracting for students. They should be able to have them at lunch and after school I think but definitely not in class and I think that schools should provide lockers for phones. Maybe small lock boxes for phones and wallets instead of the full lockers that we used to have for all of our books and stuff but kids need phones for after school and for emergencies- they just can’t be trusted to not text their friends or play games or be on TikTok during class

I would love to say yes, because I don't think children should be on their phones. But unfortunately I may have to say no....because there are so many dangers like abuse, shootings, fires, etc. Minors should have the right to call for help or contact their parents in an emergency situation

While I agree they’re distracting, it’s my responsibility to teach my kid to use technology appropriately. If they can’t be trusted with that privilege it’s my responsibility to limit access and so on. However I cannot in good faith follow a no phone policy. We no longer live in a world where I can trust others to look out for my kid. I can’t trust officers to protect and serve in the case of a school shooter. I can’t trust teachers and admin to have my child’s safety and best interest first and foremost. It’s unfortunate that these systems have failed us but that’s our reality now.

Yes because phones are distracting. We all grew up without them and we turned out fine. They don't belong in school.

I would not vote for you based on that. I pay a bill every month so my teenager has a phone. He already knows not to have it out of his pocket in class.

I forgot to put a why but it’s basically the same as everyone else. Safety and such. My son is in high school and he’s had a few lock downs and two incidents where a kid brought a gun to school but was caught right away because a student told and each of those times we didn’t get notified until 6 at night via generic email from the school. I don’t like having to wait until hours after school is over to know what’s up.

phones are super distracting, but they’re still necessary. i cannot imagine sending my child to school and them not having a way to contact me. maybe they should be required to put them in their backpacks or something, but honestly even just having them in their back pocket should be fine. if they get it out, the teacher tells them to put it away. it won’t be a big deal if you don’t make it a big deal🤷🏻‍♀️but having them taken away or locked up kinda defeats the purpose of having a phone.

No phone policy all the way. I am hoping by the time my child is in school it will be more the norm.

I think kids should have school only tablets that block out social media/ don’t include web use during class time. I agree with no cell phones, but tablets should be used in classrooms for school work at this point in the world. Everything just needs blocks on it to keep people from being distracted and chatting.

Yes. We do have that policy in our district already.

Nope. This is America.

We’re facing a major literacy crisis here in America and it’s mostly due to screens and parents allowing their children to consume brain rot. Now these kids can’t even enjoy a movie day during school without asking when it’ll be over. They have no attention span. It’s horrible.

you hit the nail on the head

Nope. My daughter’s phone is locked during the day but she can reach us if there is an emergency and I like it like that. She keeps it in her locker. There’s more important things then phones that need to be done for schools.

I said no only bc my last 2 years of school we were asked to get on our phones daily as a educational tool and I assume they’d only be used more so by the time my sons are in high school

No. It’s a safety issue and it doesn’t really matter when they are on iPads and laptops starting from kindergarten

Are you in education? I think talking to teachers there are plenty of other issues you could campaign on rather this repeated talking point

Yes!!!! What do people think a phone is going to do in an emergency? It is not going to help anything. Phones cause major distractions. If the parent has an emergency, they can contact the school and the school will call the kid down!

But there would be other things I valued more in a school board member.

same principle applies. They don’t need to. If there is an emergency, they can have the teacher call the parent. Like what does everyone think happened before cell phones?

YES!!!! My friend is a teacher in high school and she said the regular chemistry class from 8 yrs ago is now considered “advanced” and the attention spans have decreased at an alarming rate and people can’t go 45 min class period without their phones

I have never met a teacher that agreed with this. Why are we not trusting the professionals? Your child calling you and you being there 5 minutes before will help nothing. It will make emergencies worse. As a teacher, I would not be able to let your kid go to you in an emergency. The police are not letting you anywhere near the kids in a true emergency.

So on the tiny chance there is a true emergency, you being there does not help. For other issues, the kid can use the school phone.

Honestly if my child can’t use the bathroom, or have a phone for emergencies then they’re gonna be home schooled

you saying that proves to me you have never been in a classroom. It is the schools responsibility to keep the kid safe and make sure they get to the right adult. Imagine an emergency and the teacher lets your kid go home with a random stranger because parents are all around and think they can grab students. Or a parent that doesn’t have custody. Then everyone is mad at the school. Teachers still have to send the kids to the right person.

they can get in contact with them through the school.

Everyone wants to say the education system is fucked. And it is. A part of that is the cell phone distraction. You cannot teach kids that are on their phones. So we have to weigh that against the pro of parental comfort. To me it’s a no brainer

Furthermore no one is thinking like a teacher here. Because most of the people here are not. And that’s okay. But as a teacher, I am the one making the hard decisions in an active shooter situation. Or a fire. Or whatever emergency. If all the kids are on the phone and not paying attention, we waste time and they could die. That’s just the sad truth. If I decide we should run out of the school instead of hide because the information I have and your kid is on the phone listening to you, they don’t hear the instruction and they die. I wish that wasn’t where we are. But it is absolutely the truth. I am not risking my life and all the other kids lives to explain again. Not to mention possible noise.

In a real emergency, the phones would cause more issues. The honest truth here is parents and non educators should not dictate school policy. They are not the professionals. Listen to the teachers. We are all saying ban the phones and let us teach

I am also a teacher. I would not vote for you as i believe they need it for lunch time or after school especially. My school had us put it in our lockers and then allowed on the bus. Not sure why blocking on the bus tbh, I agree parents need to educate kids on not using it in class.

I would rather my children didn’t have a phone in school, I don’t think it’s necessary and it’s good for them to have a break from phones sometimes, in an emergency I’m quite happy with the school phoning me

I am in the UK but I would vote for that. However I know a bunch of parents who want their children to carry a cellphone.

My state banned phones in all public schools in September. (NY) all the feedback I have seen so far, has been positive. The kids are actually speaking and looking at each other again 😅 My kids are in preschool. So, they don’t have phones yet. But, I plan to get them smartwatches that can make calls when they are bit older. There are many options that don’t need a phone.

As far as this being a school board topic, I would say it’s worth having the local conversations. But, in my state…the change came from the state government level. Probably because they saw the need for a broad approach to try and turn around some of the problems that have occurred because of the constant phone use.
The kids have special storage for phones when they get to school. The kids get them back at approved times in accordance with the policy.

We getting rid of the laptops too? Because they're wasting time on those, too.

I'm torn on this. I don't think kids should have phones during class. However, my son having a phone to listen to music while he did his work was a lifesaver for him. He's autistic, adhd, with tourettes and it helped keep him focused and decreased tics. He's had that as an accommodation since he was in 6th grade and he's 18 now.

I also want them to have their phones for before and after school things.

obviously not all teachers. 90% of them would say ban them. And student teaching is great and tough but nothing compared to having your own classroom!

schools these days have major issues because they are afraid of parents. I didn’t mean that parents can have an opinion. It should ideally be a collaboration. But it really isn’t right now. People that have never had a classroom are making policy and parents are dictating what happens because schools are scared of them.

so if the teacher loses your kid on a friend trip that is your fault then right? Because they are still your responsibility even when you are not there. We can disagree. But you just saying “my kid will do whatever they want” is exactly the issue with school. Parents and kids thinks rules don’t apply to them.

being in a student teaching environment is not the same. It just isn’t. Ask any teacher about their student teaching. That’s not to shade you. It’s just the truth.

We take our kids to the dentist and the doctor and therapists and cosmetologist because we understand they have more knowledge and are more qualified to make certain decisions. That is the same case here. And yet everyone thinks they are an education expert because they went to elementary school.

I am also a mother. I said nothing about it being easy. It is not. Of course I love my own children more. And part of loving them is understanding I am not an expert in everything. That’s why I take them to professionals. Teaching is also not easy. And it is 100% different than what school says it is or tries to prepare teachers for. Parents and teaches should be collaborating. Parents should not be in charge of education policy. You want what is best for YOUR kid. I want what is best for ALL the kids

Ehhhh. I think it depends. If there is an emergency, I want my kid to be able to call me. I’ve bled through underwear at school and I was able to text my mom to bring me stuff when I got my period unexpectedly. It can be really embarrassing going to the nurse. Also if they don’t feel good or have a question, I like to know kids can reach me. That being said, phones should be away while in the classroom.

Apple Watches call parents so no kids do not need cell phones to reach family or guardians in emergencies etc…

the issue is that they don’t put the phones away when teachers tell them to. And it becomes a giant and annoying power struggle and issue in class.

ok 🤣

that is such an insane opinion. Wow. Thanks for the laugh 🤣

Then they should homeschool. But they won’t. Because then who will they blame and bitch at?

Idk I’m on the fence. I mean I think it’s insane that parents buy 6 year olds phones. In my son’s school all these young kids have phones, not my kid. I wouldn’t want phones banned I think if they have down time they should be allowed to use it. Most of these kids need respect more than anything , if the teacher says to put it away, it’s away. These kids go down swinging on rules that they should be following. If I was still teaching, I’d have somewhere in my class they can put it, can’t be on it during times of learning.

because public schools serve all kids. Kids with disabilities and low socioeconomic status and kids with trauma and abuse, ect. Do you know how statistics work?

I’m done with this. You don’t get it. Because you are not a teacher. This is why we should trust experts. ✌🏼