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Educators statewide have expressed support for prohibiting mobile devices in classrooms
A Seneca Valley school counselor testified before Pennsylvania Senate committees on cellphone policy as momentum for restricting mobile device use in schools grows.
Lisa Graham, a counselor at Seneca Valley Intermediate High School, spoke on the district’s “bell-to-bell’ policy, which prohibits students from using their cellphone from the first to last bell of the school day. Graham shared with legislators the “early, significant impact” of the policy.
“Three months into the school year, the impact of the ‘Bell-to-Bell’ policy has been overwhelmingly positive,” Graham said, according to a district news release. “The most immediate and noticeable change we’ve seen is the increase in student face-to-face interactions. Last year in the cafeteria, it was common to see full tables of students sitting together but talking to no one.”
The counselor’s testimony comes as state lawmakers consider several bills that would establish statewide guidelines for student cellphone use, a move many educators have voiced their support for.
Previously, Seneca Valley students could use phones during lunch, study halls and in the hallways, according to the district.
In her testimony, Graham said benefits from the policy include teachers reporting heightened focus, “improved classroom engagement, and stronger academic work.”
“As educators, it is our responsibility to create environments where students can thrive,” superintendent Tracy Vitale said in the news release. “Our ‘Bell-to-Bell’ policy has done exactly that. Students are more attentive, teachers are seeing stronger engagement and our school climate is unquestionably healthier.”
State legislators have recently heard testimony from various education officials supporting legislation regulating cellphone policies.
The Pennsylvania State Education Association said in a news release that prohibiting use of mobile devices in classrooms would have multiple benefits and that Pennsylvania should take a “statewide approach.” However, the news release also said the exact policy should be left up to the districts.
“Establishing a statewide expectation that public schools will restrict the possession and use of mobile devices will provide a consistent foundation for students,” the release said. “How those policies are implemented should be left up to each individual school district, with any statewide requirement beginning with the start of a new school year. The state should not interfere with school districts that have already successfully restricted student possession of mobile devices,” Jeff Ney, PSEA’s vice president, said in the release.
Ney said mobile devices in the classroom can disrupt students from learning, facilitate cyberbullying and are a contributing factor to student mental health issues. Ney also said mobile devices in classrooms can help students to cheat.
“Some school entities already have policies where phones must be in bookbags or lockers,” Ney said. “Some have purchased lockable bags. Some might have classroom caddies, where phones can be stored but turned off. How restriction occurs should be a decision of the districts with the input of the communities, including parents, students, and school employees.”
