NYT: Why Schools Are Racing to Ban Student Phones

Why Schools Are Racing to Ban Student Phones

As the new school year starts, a wave of new laws that aim to curb distracted learning is taking effect in Indiana, Louisiana and other states.

Before Beginning

• How often do you use your phone during the school day? Do you think it affects your focus or learning?

• Do you think cellphones should be allowed in classrooms? Why or why not?

• Have you ever experienced or witnessed cellphone-related distractions or issues in school? How did it impact the class?

Vocabulary

Scourge – (C1) A source of great trouble or suffering. Example: Cellphones have become a school scourge. (Italian: flagello) Conversation Question: What modern technologies do you think are a scourge in schools or society? Distraction – (B2) Something that takes your attention away from what you're supposed to be doing. Example: Student phone distraction is a “major problem.” (Italian: distrazione) Conversation Question: What kinds of distractions affect your focus during class or work? Bipartisan – (C1) Supported by two political parties that usually oppose each other. Example: States are mounting a bipartisan effort to crack down on cellphone use. (Italian: bipartisan, sostenuto da due partiti politici) Conversation Question: Why do you think some issues, like phone use in schools, can gain bipartisan support? Crack down on – (C1) To take strong action to stop something. Example: A bipartisan effort to crack down on rampant student cellphone use. (Italian: reprimere duramente) Conversation Question: Do you think schools should crack down on technology use, or should they allow more freedom?

Vocabulary

Rampant – (C1) Spreading quickly and without control. Example: Rampant student cellphone use. (Italian: dilagante, incontrollato) Conversation Question: What is an example of rampant behavior in schools that should be controlled? Curb – (B2) To control or limit something that is harmful. Example: Passed laws to curb phone use among students. (Italian: frenare, limitare) Conversation Question: What rules or laws can help curb the overuse of social media among young people? Compulsively – (C1) In a way that is driven by a strong, uncontrollable urge. Example: Teenagers compulsively use apps like Snap and TikTok during lessons. (Italian: compulsivamente) Conversation Question: Do you think people use their phones compulsively? How can they control this habit? Exploit – (C1) To use someone or something unfairly for your own advantage. Example: Students use phones to bully and exploit others. (Italian: sfruttare) Conversation Question: How can schools prevent students from using technology to exploit their peers?

Introduction

Cellphones have become a school scourge. More than 70 percent of high school teachers say student phone distraction is a “major problem,” according to a survey this year by Pew Research. That’s why states are mounting a bipartisan effort to crack down on rampant student cellphone use. So far this year, at least eight states have passed laws, issued orders or adopted rules to curb phone use among students during school hours. The issue isn’t simply that some children and teenagers compulsively use apps like Snap, TikTok and Instagram during lessons, distracting themselves and their classmates. In many schools, students have also used their phones to bully, exploit. and share videos of physical attacks on their peers. But cellphone restrictions can be difficult for teachers to enforce without schoolwide rules requiring students to place their phones in lockers or other locations.

Your Take

• Do you agree that cellphones are a "school scourge"? Why or why not?
• Why do you think phone distraction is such a major problem in high schools? How do phones distract students?
• What do you think about the idea of states passing laws to curb cellphone use in schools? Do you think this should be decided by individual schools or by governments?

Vocabulary

Subject to – Likely to experience or be affected by something. Example: Students are often subject to cyberbullying. (Italian: soggetti a) Question: Have you ever been subject to any rules or restrictions that you didn’t agree with? How did you handle it? Bombarded – To be constantly attacked or overwhelmed by something. Example: Students are often bombarded with text messages. (Italian: bombardati) Question: How do you feel when you are bombarded with notifications or messages? How do you manage it? Distract – To take someone’s attention away from what they are doing. Example: Phones can distract students and impair learning. (Italian: distrarre) Question: What are some things that distract you when you are trying to study or work? Impair – To weaken or damage something. Example: Phones can impair learning. (Italian: compromettere, danneggiare) Question: How do you think using phones in class could impair a student's ability to learn?

Vocabulary

Cracking down on – To take serious action to stop something. Example: States hope that cracking down on phone use will help. (Italian: reprimere, intervenire duramente) Conversation Question: Do you think cracking down on phone use in schools is a good idea? Why or why not? Misuse – The wrong or inappropriate use of something. Example: Reduce tech misuse by students. (Italian: uso improprio) Conversation Question: What are examples of misuse of technology that you have seen in school or at work? Banning – Officially prohibiting or not allowing something. Example: Some schools are also banning phones. (Italian: vietare) Conversation Question: Do you agree with banning phones in schools, or do you think students should be allowed to use them?

Why are schools cracking down on smartphones?

Students are often subject to cyberbullying and bombarded with text messages and social media notifications during school. Studies have shown that mobile phones, text messages and even “nomophobia” — the fear of not having access to one’s phone — can distract students and impair learning. States hope that cracking down on phone use in the classroom will reduce learning distractions as well as tech misuse by students. Some independent schools are also banning phones. Last week, the head of Georgetown Day School in Washington, D.C., wrote in The Atlantic that it was “time to remove phones from schools.”

Your Take

• Do you agree that cellphones are a "school scourge"? Why or why not?
• Why do you think phone distraction is such a major problem in high schools? How do phones distract students?
• What do you think about the idea of states passing laws to curb cellphone use in schools? Do you think this should be decided by individual schools or by governments?

Vocabulary

Diversion Definition: An activity that diverts attention away from something. Translation: Diversivo. Example: Students face diversions like YouTube during class. Conversation question: What are some common diversions you experience during your studies? Scan Definition: To examine or inspect closely. Translation: Scansionare, esaminare. Example: Bark scans students’ accounts for cyberbullying. Conversation question: Why is it important to scan for issues like bullying in schools?

Do school phone bans work?

Teachers say that phone bans in the classroom have helped improve students’ ability to concentrate on their lessons and work in groups. Some schools have also found the bans decreased phone-related bullying and student fights. Even so, the bans could have limited effect on the larger problem of technology in the classroom. Some students use school-issued laptops or tablets in their classes for much of the school day, with diversions like YouTube or video games one click away. Studies have found that laptop use in the classroom can have a distracting, negative impact on student learning. Students have also used school devices to bully their peers. Bark, a risk-monitoring service that scans students’ school-administered Google and Microsoft accounts, said in July that it had documented more than 8.5 million cases of school cyberbullying on Google Docs since 2019 — and more than half a million cyberbullying cases involving students on Microsoft Teams. Microsoft said Teams offered a wide range of controls that schools could use to supervise or block student chats. Google said that its education products had tools for students to report bullying to their schools and that settings in its education software and school-issued Chromebook laptops enabled schools to block certain websites and apps.

Your Take

• What consequences do you think should exist for students who misuse school-issued devices?
• What impact do you think a lack of regulations on school-issued devices might have on students' behavior?
• How can parents and teachers work together to support students in managing technology use effectively?