California Passes Law To Ban or Restrict Smartphones in School 137
Speaking of California, its governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law a a bill that requires schools to limit or ban the use of smartphones, amid a growing consensus that excess usage can increase the risk of mental illness and impair learning. From a report: Thirteen other states this year have banned or restricted cellphones in school or recommended local educators do so, after Florida led the way by banning phones in class in 2023, according to Education Week. California, with nearly 5.9 million public school students, has followed the lead of its own Los Angeles County, whose school board banned smartphones for its 429,000 students in June.
That same month U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for a warning label on social media platforms, akin to those on cigarette packages, likening the problem to a mental health emergency. Murthy cited a study in the medical journal JAMA showing adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media may be at heightened risk of mental illness, while referring to a Gallup poll showing the average teen spends 4.8 hours per day on social media. California's bill, which passed 76-0 in the state assembly and 38-1 in the senate, requires school boards or other governing bodies to develop a policy to limit or prohibit student use of smartphones on campus by July 1, 2026, and update the policy every five years.
That same month U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for a warning label on social media platforms, akin to those on cigarette packages, likening the problem to a mental health emergency. Murthy cited a study in the medical journal JAMA showing adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media may be at heightened risk of mental illness, while referring to a Gallup poll showing the average teen spends 4.8 hours per day on social media. California's bill, which passed 76-0 in the state assembly and 38-1 in the senate, requires school boards or other governing bodies to develop a policy to limit or prohibit student use of smartphones on campus by July 1, 2026, and update the policy every five years.
Are dumb phones ok? (Score:2)
So... does this mean an old Nokia is fine? There is a legitimate need for parents to be able to use modern communication to contact their spawn, so I can understand why everyone has been resistant to policies like this for a while (despite everyone also knowing you probably shouldn't give a 5th grader a smartphone). I wonder if this policy will create an artificial market for ancient phone models, that may be tricky with the old 2G and 3G networks no longer being available.
Lets see how this works out.
Re:Are dumb phones ok? (Score:5, Informative)
We just got cell phone bans here in Ontario, Canada. In elementary school (K to 8) they can have a phone but it has to be left in their bag during the day. In high school (9-12) they can have the phone, but it has to be out of sight, silent, and unused during class time. If a kid breaks the rule the phone is taken away and put in a safe storage area at the side of the room. If the student makes a fuss, then they're sent to the office for discipline.
In both cases, there are exceptions for educational purposes, so if the teacher says to use a certain app or go to a website, they can then do that.
The school network is also required by law to block "social media sites." Of course this isn't very effective and students can either use data (if they get a signal in their school) or use a VPN.
It just started this month and overall it's been well received.
Re: (Score:2)
It's the whole discipline thing that can be a problem in US schools.
Re: (Score:2)
Especially when we don't have school shootings under control and parents are going to demand these kids keep their tracking devices on them.
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:3)
Shootings are a different matter altogether. They certainly aren't a root cause of student discipline problems. They may be a result.
The day to day issues in classroom usually revolve around basic behavior and discipline. Parents don't teach their kids to respect authority, and the same parents won't back up teachers or school officials that attempt to enforce rules. It isn't every parent, but it's enough of them that it's become a significant problem. Also many school districts are hesitant to administe
Re:Are dumb phones ok? (Score:4, Interesting)
Especially when we don't have school shootings under control and parents are going to demand these kids keep their tracking devices on them.
Except if you ask emergency responders about this, they'd much rather kids not have/use cellphones in this sort of emergency. They should be paying attention, listening to instructions and trying to stay safe: not texting their parents who are not there and cannot help them.
Re: (Score:2)
I'm not asking emergency responders because they don't make that choice, the parents do. Uvalde did *not* help, at all.
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Are dumb phones ok? (Score:5, Insightful)
Parents sent their kids to schools for decades without being able to do anything more than call the office. They don't need contact with the kids constantly.
Re: (Score:2)
I agree, but it provides peace of mind to be able to reach your gremlins anywhere. I'm interested to see if this causes there to be a market for the Nokia 3310 (because that would be funny).
Re: (Score:2)
I agree, but it provides peace of mind to be able to reach your gremlins anywhere. I'm interested to see if this causes there to be a market for the Nokia 3310 (because that would be funny).
That's a problem that should be solved by parents taking a deep breath and getting a grip on themselves, not by imposing the cost of their insecurity on everyone else. A Nokia 3310 can send text messages, so it is covered by the ban, and needs to be because the biggest distraction for students via cell phones is communication within the social group.
Re: (Score:2)
As a parent I can say it does not provide me with any piece of mind. It sounds like a good thing I can call any time to check, but if I do call and if they don't answer it immediately worries me. As a parent I have to learn to let go, have trust in my child having my children constantly contactable just enables my paranoia.
Re: (Score:2)
it provides peace of mind to be able to reach your gremlins anywhere.
This type of constant connection exacerbates separation anxiety. We become dependent on the idea of constant connections as a safety net. The very idea of losing the connection becomes a source of anxiety. We start to imagine "What if something happens and I cannot reach them? How will I solve the problem for them?" It is not healthy -for the parents or the children.
Independence is required for children to develop into adults. School is one of the early steps towards children developing independence.
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
Parents sent their kids to schools for decades without being able to do anything more than call the office. They don't need contact with the kids constantly.
Maybe so, maybe no, but "it was fine a million years ago" does not a good argument make. For example: Not that many decades ago mom was always home. Now Mom has to bring kid #1 to daycare and kid #2 to grade school and dad has to bring kid #3 because that school is closer to soccer practice but on Tuesdays school closes a little early so #3 can stay at his friend's house for an hour.
Times are different.
Re: (Score:2)
written not by a Gen-Xer :D
Re: (Score:2)
Seriously... parents who are home after school? Parents who chauffeur you around not just to extracurriculars, but to and from school itself? Where'd people get those silly ideas? Some notion that Leave it to Beaver was a documentary about what real family life is like, and not just some old TV show filmed through rose-colored lenses?
I was going home to neither parent, making my own afternoon snack, doing my own homework, and when that was done watching cartoons or playing video games or going out back t
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
When exactly do you expect schools to let out? Plus the public schools around here often have after school activities in case you really need the school to be a babysitter.
Re: (Score:2)
> I'm not sure how the kid having a cell phone would fix any of that either.
Kid makes arrangements to go home with friend's parent, arranges it and notifies you directly because the nurse cannot do that. You don't miss more work.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
My kid's school does have a nurse. And yes alternative pickups can be made, I witnessed this just last week. Again we have these magical communications devices that allow us to do amazing things.
Re: (Score:2)
Dude what
Tons of kids from the 80s and 70s had moms that worked. They walked home or rode the bus and had their own key (with a backup under the welcome mat) and they let themselves in. Ever heard of latchkey kids?
Re: (Score:2)
They also made phone contact with their parents a lot, and now they can bring their phone with them. "Don't forget to call!", remember that phrase? The one that reminded you TV privileges could get revoked for a while if you got too distracted playing with your friends?
They walked home or rode the bus and had their own key...
Since my original remark was modded down I'm going to be a butt and point out that I said times are different and this entire rebuttal was written in the past tense because... times are different. I honestly don't know what we're debating,
Re: (Score:2)
No they did not make phone contact with their parents a lot. Your parents where at work they did not necessarily work near a phone. I can't remember even once growing up calling my mum to say I had arrived home, when she got back she saw I was there.
Re: (Score:2)
I can't remember even once growing up calling my mum to say I had arrived home, when she got back she saw I was there.
That's an oddly specific circumstance you chose to put forth, here. But, okay, parents and kids never talked on the phone, you win.
Re: (Score:2)
There is no situation where a parent needs to bypass the school to communicate with their child while their child should be engaged in school activities. Anything that would require the student to take action at the direct behest of their parent would need to go through school administration first.
Before or after school is a family choice.
Re: (Score:2)
There is no situation where a parent needs to bypass the school to communicate with their child while their child should be engaged in school activities.
False. Frankly I'm surprised a counter example didn't pop up in your head before you hit submit. While I agree with you that parents should be sensible about when they reach out to their kids, a simple text saying "I'll be delayed at work, go home with your friend timmy today" is not the sort of thing the school staff want to play messenger for all day.
It's weird to me that so many Slashdotters have forgotten why cell phones became popular in the first place. We can babble about what should happen all d
Re: (Score:2)
In your example the parent does not NEED to bypass the school, it is simply more efficient to do so. You need to weigh up cost of having the constant distraction of a cell phone vs the occasional efficiency gain of informing your child directly that you are going to be late. Either way there is no need for them to have the phone on them in school hours, you can text them and they can read that message when they pick up the phone after school.
Re: (Score:2)
You need to weigh up cost of having the constant distraction of a cell phone...
No, you don't. People need to use their devices properly just like we do at work. When you 'fix' social problems by removing tech you shift the problem, not move it. As we get more and more connected as the years go by the problems mount.
Re: (Score:2)
But after school those kids could call parents from a pay phone if they left school grounds to do something after - go to the park or library or whatever. Pay phones don't exist anymore.
Re: (Score:2)
That's why everyone locks up their phone at the start of the school day. They get it back afterwards. Duh.
Re: (Score:2)
Decades is a very little time, for hundred of thousands years people lived in caves, let's return to that again.
Re: (Score:2)
So... does this mean an old Nokia is fine? There is a legitimate need for parents to be able to use modern communication to contact their spawn,
Yes, you can phone the school office and ask them to get the kid on the line for you, just like parents did before cell-phones became ubiquitous. Of course, you'd only do that it if it's really needed, to pick them up for a doctor's appointment or something... and that's a good thing too. There is really no good reason a parent should be regularly in contact with their kid during the school day.
I know one local middle school that bans cell phone use during the day, and another one that doesn't, and it's
Re: (Score:2)
So... does this mean an old Nokia is fine? There is a legitimate need for parents to be able to use modern communication to contact their spawn
What is this need that suddenly manifested itself with the development and wide usage of cell phones? Before this, if a parent needed to get in touch with their child during school hours, they would call the office and have them called to the phone. There is no reason to interrupt the entire class with a phone call just to ask your kid what they want for dinner. There is no reason at all to be able to contact your child 24/7 in an instant, especially when the method to contact them is a distraction to, n
Re: (Score:2)
Israeli pagers.
Re: (Score:2)
Israeli pagers.
You are pathetic to suggest something like that.
You dont need government to do this (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
The difference is that districts can't just ignore the issue any longer.
They never could ignore the issue. The idea that school administrators, teachers, parents or school boards were ignorant of the problem is ridiculous. Moreover, the law actually does more than that. It creates rules around what that policy can include and how it will be enforced etc. According to the governor's office it actually requires schools to allow use under certain conditions. Its a power grab by state politicians with an oppo
Combine problems and "solutions" (Score:4, Funny)
Just have the kids put their phones in all the leftover plastic bags.
State law?! (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
This is treated as a pubic health issue, because there is an increasing perception that it is one. Laws are an appropriate mean to set public health policy.
Re: (Score:2)
Sure wished Seattle would treat fentanyl as a public health issue. As it is now, they have objections to chasing the dealers' RVs away from high schools. They usually just wait until the competition for choice parking spots breaks out in gun battles between competing cartel retailers.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
This seems like the sort of thing that should be handled at the school district level.
It is handled at the local level, as a matter of practicality. The implementation is left up to the local school district.
What this does is provide a fallback answer for when Karen shrieks at the teacher/administrator/schoolboard that her precious cannot be denied their iPhone, because she might need to contact them instantly (helicopter-parent by remote control...) "It's the law."
Re: (Score:2)
What this does is provide a fallback answer for when Karen shrieks at the teacher/administrator/schoolboard
Right. Its to prevent local citizens from having any voice in the decision and assumes that local school boards lack the ability to make good decisions. Its an authoritarian power grab by state politicians. I suspect it is largely popular and therefore they want credit for it. But mostly they want to be in charge.
the place you oughta be (Score:2)
Makes sense (Score:2)
I'm trying to draw parallels to the 90s when I was in school. I certainly would not have been allowed to have a landline phone in class. Even if I had a valid reason, anyone trying to get a hold of me could call the school office to do so. Likewise I could go to the school office if I had a legitimate reason for calling someone.
I'm a gamer so I do think about gaming on phones and it's clear if I brought the good ol' Game Boy brick out in class I would either have it confiscated or told to put it away. Anyon
Re: (Score:2)
The only thing I can think of that having a cell phone would clearly benefit students is in note taking. Personally I hated writing out notes on paper and I much prefer typing.
I have dysgraphia and absolutely loathed how often teachers would use the instruction of "copy this from the board" as a time sink. I'm sure they're still doing that, because neurotypicals supposedly learn from being forced to act as a human Xerox. Never worked that way for me; either I remember what I read or I don't, and most of the time I really don't get to pick what my brain decides to hang onto or immediately shitcan.
Some of these bans actually do have exceptions specifically for students with learn
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Back in the 70s I don't remember any of my teachers doing the "copy this from the board" routine. Yes, there would sometimes be some important notes or references to pages or chapters in our books about what we should be focused on. That stuff was NOT an extensive amount of text at all.
Otherwise, the student was expected to take whatever notes they thought were helpful to themself - 100 percent the student's responsibility. The most we students ever got in terms of "Important Notices" would be a "Pay attent
Teach kids how to benefit from them (Score:2)
I was a technology teacher for 18 years (2000 to 2018). When smart phones became a thing instead of banning them in class I taught the students how to use them as a learning tool. I encouraged them to take screen shots of the whiteboards I used, record lectures for later referral, and to take notes. Yes, I had the occasional student that would act like they were using the phone for learning and actually be on Facebook. Each student received 5 daily employability points that would be deducted for things such
Re: (Score:2)
I genuinely support your approach and support those who don't want to constantly monitor whether or not student phone use is "on-task".
I assume your administrators backed your approach and if a student was not successful with evidence, there was no pressure to find a way to pass the student.
Unfortunately, I've seen too many administrators at the individual and district level (Texas) who choose to game state reporting and make sure students pass and at the secondary level graduate in 4 years. In short, beha
Re: (Score:2)
One of the reasons I left teaching early. Administration and government meddling was getting too much to stomach. When state mandated testing hit full swing in my state (2014) it all went to hell.
California's clock right twice a day (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
This isn't about public health (Score:2)
I have no doubt that not having smartphones around is good for mental health, but I would bet money that public health is not the real reason for this, and the same is true of LA also doing the same before. The real problem in every case is that younger people know MSM are a shitshow, so they use social media for news.
https://www.thecanary.co/globa... [thecanary.co]
Good. (Score:2)
For that matter adults should be spending less time screwing with their phones and more on actual important things and interacting in person with other people.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Authoritarian Power Grab (Score:2)
The real question is why the state legislature and governor are deciding how to handle the issue of cell phones in schools. Doesn't California have elected local school boards to manage the local schools? Why not let the school boards working with their professional education staff, parents and students decide how to handle the problem? Why exactly did California decide to take away the power from all those people with direct experience with the problem and vest it in a small bunch of professional politicia
Phones bad, but computer required (Score:2)
Almost all schools now require computer accounts to communicate with teachers and to do homework, projects, and sometimes even tests. So it's a bit hypocritical for the same schools to forbid phones while at the same time requiring computers. What's the difference? Screen size? Physical keyboards?
Re: (Score:2)
You don't know the difference between smart phones and computers? How did you graduate?
Re: (Score:2)
Re:All this does is enforce cultural strata... (Score:4, Insightful)
Have you heard the phrase "protests too much," or would that be considered evidence of literacy and lead to a witch trial where you live?
Re: (Score:2)
Re:All this does is enforce cultural strata... (Score:4, Insightful)
Yes, people are being priced out of California. And the reason that causes problems is because people want to live in California. Tell me, who wants to live in the state that's full of people like you? Clearly not you yourself, if you left it to live among your betters, who you hate.
Re: (Score:2)
In other words, you're not attacking the people, just the electorate. AKA the people. Because you're a raving Nazi loony off his meds who can't speak English when you don't like reality. Please enjoy whatever Confederate-themed trailer park of a state has the pleasure of your company today. Something tells me you're not missed in California.
Once again you lose the ability to speak English whe
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
On the one hand, according to you, the "financial elite" conspire in their underground Dr. Evil volcano lair to continually improve California property values and economic growth (those monsters!), while on the other you see illegal immigration overwhelming institutions and tearing down the economy... and you not only believe these two opposing Nazi fairy tales at the same time, you propose them as part of the same conspiracy theory.
Like I said: You are either a raving s
Yes, it's because of the phone ban in schools!!! (Score:5, Insightful)
California is like the USA...people have been longing for its demise for a long time and it still keeps soaring. Is it perfect?...nope...got some MAJOR issues, but critics really like to exaggerate...oooh cool, you found a human turn in San Francisco....OK, that sucks....but....the state is still home to the world's most valuable companies and the epicenter of tech and entertainment as well as major players in Defense and Agriculture.
Are they on the decline?...maybe?....but like the USA, it's from such a high perch that it's going to be a long time before anyone overtakes them....pick your metric...population, GDP, etc. It reminds me of Apple...ooh, the iPhone 16 isn't selling as much as they hoped and the vision pro was a dud?...well, I think every one of Apple's competitors wished those were their big failures of the year. The same applies to California. Mississippi wishes they had California's problems. Objectively, California is a good place. It may not be a good place for you. It wasn't a good place for me, but there's no denying it's a good place. As much potential and excitement as Texas and Florida generate, they have a LONG way to go. As someone who spends a lot of time in California and Florida, I can tell you the sunshine state has come a long way in the last 25 years, but has a LOOOOOOONG way to go before it can match California on any metric, other than being Trump's favorite state.
Banning cellphones in schools makes sense. I think it's a good idea personally and I think it's just "common sense." I don't give a shit about addiction or teen self esteem...they're there to learn. They need to focus on learning. Anything that is not your textbook or materials needed for your class is a distraction. I am sure schools can override the ban on a case by case basis, but the default should be to ban them. That's my personal opinion and I think that is just common sense...but if other states want them in the classroom, it's their call.
From my perspective, California did something basic, obvious, and common-sense...and you shit on them regardless? You're so overcome with hatred and malice, you need to spew bile even when the state you don't like does something good?...I feel sorry for you and anyone who loves you if you carry that negativity around with you all day.
Re: (Score:3)
Banning cellphones in schools makes sense.
Banning 'em during class makes sense, banning 'em from the campus entirely is draconian. They're kids, not convicts. Of course, how California chooses to implement the state-wide ban remains to be seen.
Comment removed (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
Kids using smartphones during breaks profoundly reduces the quality & duration of their social interactions.
Some parents choose to homeschool their kids, which amounts to removing them entirely from the social interactions present in public school. If that's a parental right, then so should be the decision when/if a kid is responsible enough to have a phone to use during their free time.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
I'll probably never be able to find it, but I recall reading an article one time about a millennial parent who wanted their kids to be raised with access only to the sort of technology the parent had at that age. Course, the problems with that idea were that Blockbuster video is gone, old console games are collectibles now, and while you can technically still buy a Walkman-style player the quality is atrocious. Short of the fictional scenario of hopping in the DeLorean and going back in time, you can't gi
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
California INVENTED the devices, and have turned a constant profit from them. Now they're determining that they're bad. But, are they still selling them? California is druggy druggy druggy druggy....
Re:Yes, it's because of the phone ban in schools!! (Score:4, Informative)
...that so many folks are moving from California. Except they're not [datacommons.org].
Except they are. We're losing legal residents and gaining illegals. Yes, our state population is increasing as a whole. But it's being driven by illegal immigration. We had a net loss of 100,000+ legal residents in 2023.... Yet our population grew... In 2021, we had a net loss of nearly 400,000 citizens. Yet our population grew....
Liberals... Always lying by omission. It's what they do..
Re: (Score:2)
Talk to your local Chamber of Commerce (Score:2)
You can whine
Re: (Score:2)
Because of Karen-parenting!!! (Score:2)
Banning cell phones are all well and good, until a mass shooting breaks out and they can't dial 911 to tell the police "we are in room 101 and the shooter is going down the east hallway...". Or some teacher misconduct is happening and who is going to believe the word of a kid over a teacher's? But going back to the point, teachers were able to spot kids sneaking in a game of Tetris on a Gameboy in class back in the day and take action. So why can't they do this now?
Teachers can't take away cellphones if parents act like Karens and demand their precious Dylan have access to his smart phone in case he wants to text his mommy. All it takes is 1 or 2 parents to fuck up the system when the rules are unwritten. Also, there are fucking phones in schools...JFC...you know there are landlines, right? Calling 911 won't be an issue. Also, teachers have them if you're really worried about 911. I don't think you thought through that scenario very well.
Also, teacher miscond
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Guess which state saw the largest decrease in legal population.
New York, Illinois, Louisiana, West Virginia, Hawaii, Oregon, Mississippi, Rhode Island and California. In that order. So you're point?
PS. I live in California. I have working eyeballs. I can see what's happening. I have no doubt, whatsoever, that your parents were cousins.. People with legit DNA rarely are as stupid as y'all seem to be..
Me too. My roommate gets free healthcare and free college.
Re: (Score:2)
Aaand now I know you're lying. There's no public school in the US that gives kids 5 hours of homework a night. Only way a kid hits 5 hours is if they've got a month+ due date project that they're trying to finish in a day, or multiple week+ assignments they're trying to finish all at once.
Re: (Score:2)
Aaand now I know you're lying. There's no public school in the US that gives kids 5 hours of homework a night. Only way a kid hits 5 hours is if they've got a month+ due date project that they're trying to finish in a day, or multiple week+ assignments they're trying to finish all at once.
Agreed. 2 or 3 hours a night, max, it roughly what I remember about high school homework. It kept me busy from when I got home from school to when my Dad got home & expected Mom to have dinner ready.
Re: (Score:2)
I mean, you're right that this isn't the only piece of the puzzle, but they have to start somewhere.
Go give The Anxious Generation a read.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
It depends on how they implement the ban. If they ban them from campus I think that's a bad idea as kids won't have any reliable coms with their parents when they get out of school. If they restrict them to be kept off and in a locker during school hours, then I think that is a positive change.
Re: (Score:2)
My experience differs:
As a ex-high school teacher - 5 hours per night of homeworl is absurd assertment. Much less assigned now and COVID did not raise teacher expectations - quite the opposite.
As a recently retired college prof who attends one class a smester so I can use the pool/rec center -- academically, college has never been easier. And again, the COVID kids and declining birthrates have profs expeting much less (generally - especially in liberal arts) and admnistrators encouraging this both directly
So my kid went for a STEM degree (Score:2)
This makes sense. You can't really afford to go get a liberal arts degree. With a stem degree my kid is crushed by the modern economy alone where the younger you are the less you make regardless of your skill set or produ
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
And why do you think this? Is there some sort of right-wing conspiracy involved, and if so, what are its aims? Or is it just corruption, like everything else you don't approve of? Enquiring minds want to KNOW!
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
You do need a law for this.
Karen's scream and argue when [schoolboard/administrators/teachers] make a decision they dislike.
This law was championed by teachers and administrators. Now when Karen screeches, they can say "It's the law."
Re: (Score:2)
Pointing out hypocrisy makes me a troll?
States ban things that the residents there, through their leaders, donâ(TM)t like.
Californians donâ(TM)t like cell phones in schools, wasteful plastic bags, foie gras, kangaroo leather, etc.
Other states donâ(TM)t like corporations espousing viewpoints contrary to their leadersâ(TM), donâ(TM)t like gay people to be treated equally, donâ(TM)t like poor people to vote, donâ(TM)t like personal/family medical choices, donâ(TM)t like
Re: (Score:2)
And slashdot still bans unicode!!!
Re: (Score:2)
Well, you sit outside and wait, in case your children are in danger. Let's call this what it really is, selfish parents dumping their problems on school staff: Demanding their precious snowflakes be excused from the rules.
You are not the hero and so-called good intentions do not excuse your delusions or your 'crimes'.
Yeah, that's whats important when guns are taken into schools.