This article is part of a partnership between the Mendocino Voice and nonprofit newsroom EdSource to bring relevant education-related news to Mendocino County readers. Learn more about EdSource here.
Teachers overwhelmingly support restricting the student use of cellphones in the classroom, according to a survey by the Association of American Educators released earlier this month.
The association surveyed 1,517 teachers across the country and found that 70% ranked cell phone use as one of their top five concerns. It ranked second behind academic achievement. More than half of the teachers surveyed said cell phones are a distraction from learning, while 26% cited mental health concerns for their support of bans.
“Educators and parents recognize the vital importance of a healthy learning environment free from unnecessary distractions,” said AAE Executive Director Colin Sharkey. “Locally developed policies that greatly restrict cell phone use throughout the school day appear to be broadly popular among educators, including those with school-aged children.”
A majority of teachers, 70%, want cell phones to be banned during the entire school day, white 26% support classroom bans. Less than 2% opposed cell phone restrictions.
More than half of the teachers surveyed said that their schools already ban cell phones on campus during the entire school day, while 45% reported that their schools ban cell phones only during class time.
This article originally appeared in EdSource here.
