This week, a series of new bills in Missouri are getting attention. The bills aim to ban cellphones during class time in schools across the state. The idea is to limit distractions for students and make it easier for teachers to teach without interruptions from phones or smartwatches.
What Are the Bills About?
The Missouri House of Representatives is planning hearings this week to discuss three new bills. These bills would require all public and charter schools to have rules that ban the use of phones and smartwatches during class time. The goal is to create a uniform policy across all schools in the state, as current cellphone rules differ from school to school.
State Representative Kathy Steinhoff, one of the sponsors of these bills, shared her thoughts. She said that when she was a teacher, cellphones were a huge distraction and made it hard for students to focus on their lessons. According to her, the job of a teacher is already challenging, and phones just add to the difficulty.
Currently, Missouri schools have different cellphone rules. For example, some schools like Ferguson-Florissant make students keep their phones in pouches throughout the school day. Other schools, like Ladue Middle School, completely ban phones. On the other hand, schools like Rockwood allow teachers to decide whether or not to allow phones in class.
Why Are People Supporting the Bills?
Many parents and teachers believe banning phones during class would help students focus better on their education. Corey Jackson, a parent, said he supports the idea because cellphones are a big problem at his children’s school. According to him, students today pay too much attention to their phones during school hours, which makes learning harder.
A study by Saint Louis University also showed that a large number of Missourians – around 79% – think phones should be banned in high school classrooms. This suggests that many people feel strongly about reducing distractions caused by phones.
Are There Any Concerns?
While the bills are getting support, some people have raised concerns. Verna Daniels, a resident of St. Louis County, believes that banning phones might not be the best solution. She thinks that phones can be important during emergencies, such as school shootings. In such situations, having a phone could help students stay in touch with their families or authorities.
Daniels also mentioned that if the state makes a uniform rule, it should allow phones in schools for emergency purposes. This concern highlights the growing focus on school safety in recent years.
What’s Next for These Bills?
The bills will be discussed in the Missouri House of Representatives this week. If they pass, the state could set new rules for schools to follow when it comes to cellphone use. While the bills have gained broad support, the discussions will continue to see if any changes need to be made before they are finalized.
Whether the bills will pass or not remains to be seen, but the debate about cellphone use in schools is likely to continue for some time.
(Source : firstalert4.com)
