May LM 2024_1

The Case for Phone-Free Schools By Dr. Kyle Thompson, Regional Superintendent Regional Office of Education #11

phone free schools to put the emphasis back on teaching and learning rather than classroom management. Doing so, I believe, will have a powerful impact on academics, student behavior, and mental health. For decades, education has been inundated with data allowing us to see what was happening from one school to the next, from one state to the next, and from one country to the next. From a global perspective, we are falling behind (Google PISA). Of course, cell phones aren’t the only reason for that, but it is undeniable that students on cell phones are disengaged and not immersing themselves in learning as much as they could be. As cell phones have become more common in schools, academic outcomes have declined. Cell phones are not helping our students become college and career ready as they are merely in attendance physically, not mentally. We can no longer blame COVID for academic declines, instead we must address some of the real problems facing our schools. Ask almost any building administrator and they will say the majority of discipline infractions in schools are the result of cell phones and the applications on them, particularly social media. Gone are the days where Solitaire and Minesweeper provided the distractions. In addition to social media, students are often unaware of what is happening around them due to distractions like Netflix movies, YouTube TV, online gaming and gambling, and even simple text messages—often from their parents. Classroom management is at the forefront of the school day, as

Cell phones are never returning to junior high in Flossmoor SD #161. One year after purchasing lockable bags that prevent students from accessing their phones during the school day, discipline behavior data is trending way down and academic data is surging up at the school in the south suburbs of Cook County. Dr. Dana Smith, the preK–8 district’s superintendent, recently shared that news on the IASA Podcast. In my role as Regional Superintendent of ROE #11, I was well aware of the distractions and behavior problems cell phones have caused in schools. The interview with Dr. Smith crystalized it for me and got me thinking more about how I can help more schools become phone free. The proof is in the pudding. “Students are engaging in the school process more and engaging with their peers more,” Dr. Smith said. “We have an environment focused on learning.” Over the past year, news articles and national publications on the topic have circulated widely as states began taking measures to address the challenge. Florida and Indiana have banned cell phones in schools, and several other states are considering it. Other countries such as France and Australia, have recently enacted policies of their own. While I am not in favor of a statewide mandate, now is the time for more Illinois school districts to consider implementing

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LM May 2024