Here’s what happened after some US schools started locking up students’ phones
Early encouraging indicators are prompting more states to adopt the practice.
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A US middle school in Kansas that imposed mobile phone restrictions on its students saw suspensions dropping 70 per cent and absenteeism going down from 39 per cent to 11 per cent.
PHOTO: UNSPLASH
Mary Ellen Klas
There are few things most American politicians seem to agree upon, but banning mobile phones in classrooms seems to be one of them. Based on the experiences of some schools that have required students to prioritise learning over TikTok scrolling, there’s also a welcome side benefit – less conflict and more “hellos”.
When school starts this autumn, students in most US states and DC will be required by law to turn over or turn off their smartphones during all or most of the school day, according to an Education Week tally.
