WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – Kansas lawmakers plan to pass a bill that would require school districts to create policies prohibiting the use of phones during regular hours of the school day.
The bill would be brought up in the legislative session in January, according to Legislative Liaison Cathy Hopkins, who spoke at last week’s Kansas State Board of Education meeting. Hopkins said she heard from lawmakers directly about the proposed legislation.
The measure would create the opportunity for a phone ban in districts across the state.
High school students expressed opposition to the idea when asked about the potential ban.
“What?! I think that’s a bad idea, do not do that,” one student said. “Oh No… I need my phone, I can’t last without it. Like I’m low-key addicted, but I need my phone. What if it’s like an emergency or something? Anything could happen?”
Students who spoke with 12 News on Tuesday were unamused when it came to even the idea of losing the ability to use their phones at school.
Some pointed out that their phones are sometimes used as tools in the classroom.
“A lot of students actually use their phone for schoolwork it’s more than you might think,” another student said. “Having a phone with you is so nice because you can download the school apps on your phone, and it’s just really good to have communication with other students sometimes too.”
A number of districts in the state, including Wichita Public Schools, already have policies in place that restrict the use of cell phones during class time.
The bill that could lead to statewide cellphone bans in schools is expected to be introduced in the next legislative session in January.
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