US Schools Begin To Confiscate Phones From Students So They Pay Attention

The following report is by The Trends Journal:

Schools across the U.S. are grappling with cellphones in the classroom and are trying to figure out ways to separate students from these devices that are seen as a distraction during course instruction.

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that thousands of schools across the U.S. have begun disabling or locking up these phones, while states have either proposed or enacted cell phone restrictions.

More than 75 percent of U.S. K-12 public schools prohibit non-academic cellphone use, the Kansas Reflector reported, citing a study from 2021-2022. About 43 percent of public high schools have such rules.

The report noted that Florida was the first state to require all public schools to ban students from using their phones during instruction.

Gov. Ned Lamont, the Democrat from Connecticut, introduced legislation that would restrict cell phone use inside classrooms in his state.

“Social media, anti-social, and too much smartphone makes you stupid,” he said during his State of the State address. 

“We hear from teachers all the time that they’re distracting,” he said, according to the WSJ.  

The paper noted that schools are trying to find the right balance. Cellphones are ubiquitous, and some parents disagree that phones should be taken away from bell-to-bell. These parents say it’s important to have access to their children in case there’s an emergency. 

The paper cited a recent national poll that found just one-third of public-school parents back an all-out cell phone band during the school day.

The paper spoke to a high school history teacher in Las Vegas who is in favor of a ban—but questions its effectiveness because her district has one, and phones are still a problem. 

Tambi Lewis, the teacher, said she often catches students scrolling through social media and texting each other during class. Her district will start a pilot program that will involve confiscating cell phones at the beginning of class and storing them in “non-locking pouches that block cell signals.”

“We have to do something. There’s no learning going on because of the phones,” she said.

TRENDPOST: The Trends Journal has reported extensively on the impact that cell phones and social media have had on the younger generation. (See “SOCIAL MEDIA BLAMED FOR EPIDEMIC OF TEEN DEPRESSION” 24 Oct 2023, “SURGEON GENERAL WARNS OF ‘PROFOUND’ MENTAL HEALTH RISKS TIED TO SOCIAL MEDIA” 30 May 2023, “IT’S OFFICIAL: SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOW WORTHLESS” 4 Apr 2023, “HOOKED ON ‘LIKES’? SOCIAL MEDIA COULD CHANGE TEEN BRAIN FUNCTIONS: STUDY” 17 Jan 2023, and “SOCIAL MEDIA = DRUG ADDICTION” 16 Aug 2023.)

Besides social media use, young people today are forced to deal with a failing world. We’re faced with a migrant crisis, multiple wars, and poverty. Financial constraints mean both parents need to hold jobs and young children are forced to attend day care centers.

Cellphones are a danger in their own right, as we have noted. (See “CELL PHONE USE LINKED TO SPERM ISSUES” 7 Nov 2023, “NOT-SO-SMART PHONES: UBIQUITOUS ACCESSORY IS A ‘RESERVOIR OF ALLERGENS,’ TOXINS” 15 Nov 2022 and “SMART PHONES = BRAIN ROTTING STUPID” 13 Jul 2021.)

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AUTHOR COMMENTARY

I’m glad The TJ is acknowledging that Gen-Z is being hit with the kitchen sink and all other appliances (in the metaphorical sense), and is why I have cautioned and urged older generations to find it within themselves grace, mercy, compassion, and understanding for them. Their situation is radically different than yours, and they have next to no guidance, and they are quite confused and nervous, and unsure of what to do, their purpose, and where it’s all going. Most Gen-Z’ers are not the abominations you see on social media propaganda by mainstream media.

[15] Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. [16] Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Romans 12:15-16

Now, having said that, Gen-Z (and really everyone at this point, but especially Zoomers and Millennials) is woefully addicted and ensnared with their devices, and the fruit of that is manifest for all to see. Proverbs 22:8: “He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.”

I remember when I was in middle school and the schoolboard made the decision to allow students to use smartphones and tablets in certain instances during class, and ever since then I remember the attention deficit fell off a cliff soon after. I was the odd man out for a longtime because my parents would only allow me to have a “granny phone” for the longest times, being one of the last people at my massive high school to have a smartphone; and I can say looking back on it that I am glad they did not allow me to have one, especially seeing all the evil they have wrought.

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[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).

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