Parents react to passage of House bill banning cell phone use in Alabama public schools
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — The Alabama House of Representatives approved a bill banning students from using their cellphones in public schools on Thursday. However, there are three exceptions listed in the measure.
Representative Leigh Hulsey of Helena tells CBS 42 News that the teachers were asking for this. Hulsey said that when you look at the data, cell phone use is hurting academic performance and the students' well-being. A Pew Research Center survey conducted in November of 2023 indicated that 72% of U.S. high school teachers say students being distracted by cellphones is a major problem.
Busy mother of twins Tayroya Hawthorne is also a substitute teacher at Minor Middle School. She didn't mince words when asked how she feels about the passage of the bill in the house that would ban cell phone use in Alabama public schools during classroom hours.
'If you can just tell them like put your phone away or keep it in your pocket as long as it's not out,' she explained. 'But as far as you're talking about putting it in their locker turning it off, somebody run up in the school and my baby got to run to their locker to get they phone and risk being shot, I don't agree with it,' she said.
According to HB166 students would not be allowed to possess a wireless communication device in any public elementary or secondary school building during the instructional day 'unless the wireless communication device is turned off and stored in a locker, backpack, car, or similar storage location.'
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'I feel it's necessary for some children and necessary for some cases, very needed, maybe the kids will learn more,' remarked Jameisha Watson.
She has a daughter in the 9th grade at Minor High School, and a 7- and 8-year-old at Midfield Elementary. While supportive of the measure in general, she believes there should be exceptions:
'Some kids actually need a cell phone for safety reasons, so I think for some reasons some kids may need to have it.'
While mother of three Tiffany Bennett of Roebuck plans to send her kids to private school, she's supportive of the measure:
'I think it's a great idea,' she said. 'Cell phones are very distracting, especially during classroom work, they just distract the kids, there's just so much going on online, and social media, I'm just excited about it actually.'
The bill now moves onto a state Senate committee. Right now, Alabama schools have local control, so school systems make their own rules and policies under their local school board and superintendent.
Jefferson County Public Schools policy states that the use of personal wireless communication devices such as cell phones, smartwatches or wearable technology, iPads, iPhones, or other electronic communication devices are prohibited during school hours or while being transported on a school bus without specific authorization by school officials.
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