JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – When and where students can access their cellphones during school is up for debate thanks to a bill making its way through the Florida Legislature.
Right now, Florida law says students can’t use their cellphones during “instructional time,” but they can use them on school property during free time.
But a bill introduced in the House Education Administration Committee could make a big change.
It would keep students from using their cellphones at ALL on school property (no matter what time) and during school activities, even if they’re off grounds.
How it would work
But it wouldn’t be an all or nothing start. Instead, the Department of Education would roll it out first in two large counties, two medium-sized counties and two small counties, starting July 1.
Those districts would then report back to the state about what worked and what didn’t with the more restrictive rules.
The results of that trial period would then be used to write a “model” policy for other districts to adopt.
The bill’s first stop in the Legislature is an education subcommittee, which meets Tuesday morning.
Pros and cons
St. Johns Superintendent Tim Forson, who is retiring at the end of the school year, said he sees it both ways but ultimately believes more oversight on cellphone usage is needed in schools.
“The benefit of a cellphone is if we go back a number of years, they are the modern-day laptop. Cellphones have such capacity and from the instructional standpoint for the opportunity of learning, they are a great technology. So from that side, it’s easy to say, ‘Why not use them?’” Forson said. “But from the risk side of it, I think there are a number of things that are being researched (that) we need to look at it as educators and does it become a distraction.”
Parent opinions
Opinions among parents in Duval County are divided on the use of cellphones in schools.
Some say they don’t agree with the policy change, while others support it, saying they are already trying to keep their children from using devices so much.
“I’m a 47-year-old man, and I still get distracted by my phone, so for a 12-year-old who is still developing, I think it’s pretty important, especially in school when they are supposed to be learning,” said Robert Barnicel, a father of two Duval County students.
Keya Gore, a mother of two students, doesn’t disagree but draws the line at her child’s phone being off all day.
“If there are different emergencies or something is happening at the school, a shooting or random crazy people, your children should be able to send you a text message and say what’s going on,” Gore said.
But the bill does allow for exceptions. According to the current draft, the policy must address the use of cellphones or electronics during the day for students with disabilities or who are English Language Learners and when necessary for health reasons, emergency medical issues, or for natural or man-made disasters.
