As of June 2025, 22 states and Washington, D.C., have signed or already enacted laws or policies regarding student cell phone usage in K-12 classrooms.
While many people want the policy to be lifted or changed, many others want the ban to stay.
Phones are being banned or restricted in schools to reduce classroom distractions, improve student mental health, along with cyberbullying and cheating.
First, let’s go over the side of the wall that thinks the phone ban should be lifted. Students mostly think this because of safety precautions. Say, a school shooter as an example.
Kids would want to say their last goodbyes to their families or at least text them what’s happening. Also if they are getting emails from their school regarding the shooting, of course kids want to figure out what’s happening.
Even if there is some sort of medical emergency and no one is around, like in the bathrooms or in an empty hallway, students need some way to get a hold of someone to tell them what’s going on.
When questioned about the phone ban, Chelsea Falk (9), avid creator of drawings and artistic skill, stated, “Well, if you are in some sort of a situation, like a shooting, then what do you do? Sit there and accept your fate?”
I asked, “What would you do with your phone at that time?” She hit me back with, “I would want to text my friends and family that I love them at least, you think I’m gonna do that on my school Chromebook? I didn’t think so.”
Now, let’s go over to the other side of the wall, the people who think that the phone ban should stay and stand strong. They think that the ban should stay mainly because of distractions and cheating.
Some students try to use google or AI for assignments, projects and tests. They will also use phones as a distraction, like watching videos, doom scrolling, or listening to music when they aren’t allowed to.
Some students will also use phones to record videos or take photos of other innocent students without consent, which is obviously not allowed for many reasons including for said innocent students’ privacy reasons.
I saw on a website (texastribune.org) that had an interview from 43 year old John Khun, the superintendent at Abilene ISD, stated, “At one of our campuses, for example, they had to get some Uno cards and other things for students to do during lunch because they wanted that engagement, so there’s a lot more face-to-face conversation going on. I’ve had teachers telling me they’ve noticed students are doing a better job making eye contact and just engaging in conversation than they were before.”
Now that we went over both sides of the wall, which side do you think is more logical?
I personally think that both sides have a very good and strong point in what they are saying. At the same time, I do lean more towards the side of getting rid of the ban.
Yes, cheating is bad. But is cheating seriously worse than having a medical emergency and not having a way to get someone’s attention? I think not, but some people do think that it is worse for some reason.