As the new school year begins, Governor Gavin Newsom has begun encouraging California school districts to restrict cell phone use on campus.
“Every classroom should be a place of focus, learning and growth,” Newsom said. “Working together, educators, administrators and parents can create an environment where students are fully engaged in their education, free from the distractions on the phones and pressures of social media.”
Newsom’s stance was impacted by LAUSD’s surprising decision to ban cell phones entirely, which will be put into motion in January. He applauds LAUSD and similar districts for taking action.
“Our students are glued to their cell phones, not unlike adults,” LAUSD board member Nick Melvoin said. “They’re surreptitiously scrolling in school, in class time or have their head in their hands, walking down the hallways. They’re not talking to each other or playing at lunch or recess because they have their AirPods in.”
So far, OPUSD does not have any official restrictions on cell phone use during school hours. It is up to the teachers whether they grant students access to their phones during class, but students are free to go on their phones during nutrition and lunch.
“Last year and previous years phones had to be either off and in their bags or put away in a way that they wouldn’t be a distraction. This year I’ve decided to have students put their phones away in cell phone pockets I have near my desk,” English teacher Caitlin McCranie said. “After reading about how particularly social media and other apps on phones can be addictive, it felt like it was time to create a space where I took control so kids didn’t have to fight the addictive nature of cellphones in my classroom.”
Social media is one of the main reasons for these recent government policies. According to Yale Medicine, in a study of 12-15 year olds in America, it was found that those who used social media for over three hours a day had twice the risk of mental health issues.
“Young people’s brains are still developing and as individuals, young people are developing their own identities. What they see on social media can define what is expected in ways that is not accurate and that can be destructive to identity development and self-image,” Claude Mellins, a professor of medical psychology from Columbia Psychiatry, said.
In a 2014 online survey conducted by Pew Research Center, it was found that 83% of teens interacted with their close friends at school. Schools are an opportunity for social interaction face-to-face, but screen addiction has reduced this, further pushing school boards to ban cell phones.
“When I visit campuses during lunchtime, my heart breaks to see students sitting alone, isolated on their phones instead of engaging and learning with their peers,” LAUSD board member Tanya Ortiz Franklin said.
Though cell phones may be a source of distraction in educational environments like schools, as well as having an impact on the mental health of teens, it is disputed whether students should lose complete access to their phones. In a recent survey performed by EdChoice of teens aged 13-18, 91% believed that phones should be allowed at school and 65% believed that phones should be allowed in classrooms.
“Cell phones are useful if they are used appropriately. During summer, I used to look at my phone every five minutes and it was extremely distracting,” sophomore Ayushi Agarwal said. “Cell phones have effects like distraction and not being able to concentrate well in academics, but they also have some pros, and maintaining a balance is crucial.”
Cell phones are also an important channel of communication between students and their guardians. A 2022 Gallup poll shows that parents’ fear for their children’s safety at school is spiking up again. With the variety of dangerous incidents that could occur at schools, it may be safest to allow students access to their phones at most, if not all, times.
“Students should be allowed to use their cell phones while at school as they are a good way to get in contact with parents or friends if necessary,” sophomore Ilayda Yildiz said. “I do believe that phones have benefits such as when you are submitting something to Google Classroom, to keep track of deadlines and to review something for a subject.”
It is the OPUSD school board that determines what sort of restrictions are placed on phone use at Oak Park High School. Like LAUSD, they will decide if students should have the freedom to use their phones on campus. Their decision is heavily impacted by the wants and needs of the community, so if you feel strongly about cell phone use on campus, consider voicing your opinion at an OPUSD board meeting.
