Letters to the Editor |

A cell-phone ban in our public schools?: Letters

Banning cell phones probably wouldn’t work

Although banning student phones in public schools should be a last resort, it might be necessary due to California’s abysmal outcomes with core subject test scores. District policies on this issue should have been rolled out 10-15 years ago. A smarter idea would involve parents refusing to allow their children to have a phone until the age of 16 or more.

That would cut down on screen time for developing young minds who should be studying history, math, reading, science, writing, etc., instead of being mesmerized by social media platforms. While some teachers are consistent regarding phones being stored while students are in class, some teachers are lenient or permissive. We know that excessive screen time can generate addiction and depression, so enforcing consistent rules at school makes sense to protect students’ overall health. Banning an addictive activity or warning about its harmful usage doesn’t always work, but a policy that keeps phones inactive during the school day would enhance students’ education.

— Christian Milord, Fullerton

Schools need cell-phone rules for their students

Have students deposit cell phones in slotted boxes by the classroom door. Allow emergency calls to ring through. Allow texts to be silently received. Students pick up phones upon exiting the classroom.

— Robert Raffel, Laguna Niguel

Absolutely, yes

Ban cell phones in all K-12 schools. It is hard enough for our teachers to educate our youth without all the distractions cell phones create. Kids are obsessed with their phones and completely distracted from learning, listening and paying basic attention to life while on their phone. If parents need to reach their kids during an emergency, they can simply call the school and have their child summoned to the office. The negatives of having cell phones at school far outweigh the positives. However, taking a kids phone away from them is “cruel and unusual” punishment in their minds. It’s a sad situation for all of us, when a kid can post something on their phone better than they can spell what they are posting. Take the phones away and give our future a chance.

— Michael Green, Santa Ana