Legislation that would prohibit students from using cell phones in the classroom is moving forward after members of the Senate Education Committee unanimously advanced the measure on Wednesday.¶
The bill, sponsored by Senator Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, requires local boards of education and public charter schools to adopt a policy prohibiting students from using any wireless communication devices during instructional time, with some exceptions. Teachers could allow devices for educational purposes, and students could use them in the event of an emergency. Students with special needs or those who use them for medical conditions such as glucose monitoring, would also be permitted to use their phones. The bill also requires schools to develop a process for notifying parents or guardians in the event of an emergency at the school.¶
Speaking in to the committee, Senator Haile pointed to Trousdale County, which already limits cell phones in schools and has seen marked improvement. He wants to see other districts implement policies limiting the use of wireless devices.¶
“There are school boards that really don’t have the backbone to make a call on this. We have some parents that would love to have this,” said Senator Haile. “So, let’s step up and ask the school boards to make a policy on this.”¶
Senator Mark Pody, R-Lebanon, said he supports the idea, but expressed concerns about taking control out of the hands of individual districts.¶
“So, we’re not only telling locals that they have to have a policy, but they have to ban it as well,” said Senator Pody. “So, we’re taking that option away from the locals and we’re taking that decision on ourselves?”¶
Pody went on to ask if there was a model policy already in use that has seen success.¶
Representatives from the Tennessee Department of Education and the Tennessee School Boards Association told committee members that neither entity currently has a model policy regarding cell phones in the classroom.¶
Senator Adam Lowe, R-Calhoun, said he would prefer the State Department of Education or the State Board of Education to take the lead in creating a policy for statewide guidance, but still supports the legislation.¶
“It’s becoming very clear this is the worst thing to happen to youth mental health in our lifetime. The distraction of social media that pulls our students into other spaces outside the classroom is almost undeniable,” said Senator Lowe.¶
Senator Rusty Crowe, R-Johnson City, says overall, regulating cell phones in the classroom is a popular idea in his district.¶
“The pushback from parents is generally that when there are mass shootings and things like that, they want their kids to have a phone,” said Senator Crowe. “But it’s been shown, when you have these kinds of situations, and each of these situations has a plan to protect the students, when everybody’s calling everybody, it really screws up the whole plan.”¶
He went on to point out the bill does allow for cell phone use for safety or in emergency situations.¶
Senator Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, supports the idea of regulating cell phones in schools, but asked for clarification about how much access students might have.¶
“This is really a bi-partisan movement, and I think the exceptions are sufficient,” said Senator Akbari. “But is this banning them from having the cell phone or is it banning them from using it?”¶
Senator Haile said that would be left up to individual districts, pointing to some policies already in effect around the state.¶
“There are some that require them to leave them in the car, some that allow them to be checked in, some that allow them not to be seen, so this gives variance to the LEAs (local education agencies) as to how they go about that,” he said.¶
Senator Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, also expressed his support for the legislation, praising the flexibility it would give to individual school districts.¶
“I think students do need at least that time during instruction to not be on their cell phones and wireless devices and it will help with the teacher’s ability to teach,” said Senator Hensley.¶
The bill passed unanimously. Both the House and Senate versions of the bill now head for full votes in each chamber, with the House expected to take it up on Monday.¶
Also, during Wednesday’s Education Committee meeting, Senator Becky Massey, R-Knoxville, withdrew her Promising Futures early learning bill. The bill would have provided scholarships for children to attend early education programs using money from the Tennessee Education Lottery.¶
Massey said given the other initiatives being pushed by Governor Bill Lee which also use lottery funds, this is not the year to get her bill funded. She hopes to introduce it again in the future.¶
