I am writing an editorial on potential issues with the cell phone policy at Kearney High School. These are just the initial claims. The full article should be out next week. Let me know what you think so far!

Claim

Students should not have access to cell phones and social networking at school, including at lunch time.

Supporting Claims

• Here is the Kearney High School cell phone policy Source:

“Cell phones are allowed at Kearney High School and may be used before school, during passing periods, during lunch, and after school. During class, cell phones should be turned off unless the teacher allows them to be used. Students caught using their cell phones in class without teacher permission will need to place their cell phone in a holder located in the classroom and will be able to retrieve it at the end of the period. Should parents need to contact their child during the day, please contact the KHS Attendance Office instead of calling your child’s cell phone.”

• Schools in other places are using strict cell phone policies to keep students from using their cell phones or other “telecommunication devices” during school hours or even on the school bus. Source
• These students are allowed to use school – provided technology with permission for sanctioned learning activities.
• A 2018 study found a strong correlation between cell phone addiction and suicidal ideations. They also found students often turned to their cell phones to deal with bullying, even though the bullying often came through the smartphones. Source
• We may not be able to keep teens from smartphone addiction altogether, but we can make sure it is not happening at school. This would also help students concentrate on learning and socializing in person without the distraction of phones.

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