A bill that would require K-12 school districts to establish policies to restrict or ban students using cell phones in school hours dials up a lot of support during a public hearing Tuesday afternoon.The Legislature’s Education Committee heard testimony on LB 140 introduced by state Sen. Rita Sanders on behalf of Gov. Jim Pillen and Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers.”The evidence, in my view, is crystal clear. Our kids are being harmed by their constant exposure to these things,” Pillen said. Pillen said electronic communication devices are adversely affecting both grades and mental health.”One of the most powerful policy prescriptions we can put in place is to get phones out of the hands of children during the school day,” Hilgers said.LB140 requires the school boards of each public school district to adopt a policy establishing the rules and standards for cell usage. The bill also spells out certain exceptions like when the cell phone is authorized by a teacher for educational purposes, in the case of an emergency, and for monitoring and management of a student’s health care situation. Nebraska Commissioner of Education Dr. Brian Maher said most schools in the state already have some cell phone policy, however some policies still leave it for teachers to enforce.”This levels the playing field for teachers, and it provides more consistency for students,” said Lincoln Public Schools science teacher Michael Geist. Marley Helvey, a freshman at Omaha Westside, said her school’s “Bell to Bell no Cell” policy has been helpful in many ways.”As a teen, it’s super helpful if our peers have the same rules that we do. If I’m trying to be off my phone in school, but other people are on theirs, it’s really hard,” Helvey said.She can still text between classes during lunch.”Compared to last year, not having my phone in class helps me get more work done at school, then I have less homework and more free time at home. So, it sort of works out,” Helvey said.She recommends that schools not use any policy to punish students.”I don’t think it should be a reason to get more kids in trouble. So maybe the bill should be changed to say that students shouldn’t be suspended or have marks on their permanent record just for having your phone out in class, even if it happens more than once,” Helvey said.Tyler Mosher, a senior at Elkhorn South, said overuse of cell phones and social media has caused negative self-image, online bullying and decreased social interaction.”So, when you put one of the most addictive things, technology, our phones into our hands, it’s not a great outcome,” Mosher said.While she supports the restrictions, she said having quick access to her phone during the April tornado last year was important.She described how she was sheltered at the school for two hours.”So, lots of parents and kids were not able to communicate back and forth, which was scary for me, and so I cannot imagine what it was like for parents on the other side,” Mosher said. “What I would suggest is that if we know that there is going to be inclement weather, we’re able to keep our phones. I’m also opposed to the idea that phones are in the office, far, far away,” Mosher said.Pillen and Sanders said they are willing to work to make changes to the bill.”This is this is really urgent. This is something we have got to take action on,” Pillen said.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
A bill that would require K-12 school districts to establish policies to restrict or ban students using cell phones in school hours dials up a lot of support during a public hearing Tuesday afternoon.
The Legislature’s Education Committee heard testimony on LB 140 introduced by state Sen. Rita Sanders on behalf of Gov. Jim Pillen and Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers.
“The evidence, in my view, is crystal clear. Our kids are being harmed by their constant exposure to these things,” Pillen said.
Pillen said electronic communication devices are adversely affecting both grades and mental health.
“One of the most powerful policy prescriptions we can put in place is to get phones out of the hands of children during the school day,” Hilgers said.
LB140 requires the school boards of each public school district to adopt a policy establishing the rules and standards for cell usage. The bill also spells out certain exceptions like when the cell phone is authorized by a teacher for educational purposes, in the case of an emergency, and for monitoring and management of a student’s health care situation.
Nebraska Commissioner of Education Dr. Brian Maher said most schools in the state already have some cell phone policy, however some policies still leave it for teachers to enforce.
“This levels the playing field for teachers, and it provides more consistency for students,” said Lincoln Public Schools science teacher Michael Geist.
Marley Helvey, a freshman at Omaha Westside, said her school’s “Bell to Bell no Cell” policy has been helpful in many ways.
“As a teen, it’s super helpful if our peers have the same rules that we do. If I’m trying to be off my phone in school, but other people are on theirs, it’s really hard,” Helvey said.
She can still text between classes during lunch.
“Compared to last year, not having my phone in class helps me get more work done at school, then I have less homework and more free time at home. So, it sort of works out,” Helvey said.
She recommends that schools not use any policy to punish students.
“I don’t think it should be a reason to get more kids in trouble. So maybe the bill should be changed to say that students shouldn’t be suspended or have marks on their permanent record just for having your phone out in class, even if it happens more than once,” Helvey said.
Tyler Mosher, a senior at Elkhorn South, said overuse of cell phones and social media has caused negative self-image, online bullying and decreased social interaction.
“So, when you put one of the most addictive things, technology, our phones into our hands, it’s not a great outcome,” Mosher said.
While she supports the restrictions, she said having quick access to her phone during the April tornado last year was important.
She described how she was sheltered at the school for two hours.
“So, lots of parents and kids were not able to communicate back and forth, which was scary for me, and so I cannot imagine what it was like for parents on the other side,” Mosher said.
“What I would suggest is that if we know that there is going to be inclement weather, we’re able to keep our phones. I’m also opposed to the idea that phones are in the office, far, far away,” Mosher said.
Pillen and Sanders said they are willing to work to make changes to the bill.
“This is this is really urgent. This is something we have got to take action on,” Pillen said.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
