A new policy imposing a cell phone-free school day is on the table, and though some Lawrence parents believe it would better support teachers and students’ mental health, others said they’re worried about the safety implications. The Lawrence school board will consider approving a cell phone policy draft that says personal cell phones and devices must be “turned off and stored out of sight at all times during school hours” across the district. Ann Hossler is the parent of a Free State freshman who previously attended Raintree Montessori School, which enforced a strict cell phone ban. “There is hard evidence that links social media and smartphones to the decline of, you know, teenagers’, especially women’s, mental health,” Hossler said. “Even emotionally, you have some kind of struggle that you have to work with, but we distract ourselves with phones instead of processing the emotion.” The response from Hossler’s students has been mostly positive. Device-free zones help ideas flow and promote professionalism and social engagement, she said. Typically if students breach the device-free zone, Hossler opts to make a general announcement and then start reminding students directly. She said other professors may give out unexcused absences after the first reminder.
Source: The Lawrence Times
