Senate Bill 142 was filed last week in the Arkansas State Legislature and is expected to be presented to the education committee on Monday. The bill is centered on an act known as “Bell to Bell no Cell,” and aims to require districts to create a policy to prohibit cell phones throughout the whole school day. “It’s nearly impossible to teach an effective class when kids have their phone,” NWA teacher Jennifer Richard said. Richard has been teaching in Northwest Arkansas for 20 years and has seen phones change how classrooms operate. She started making her classroom a no-phone environment when teaching was impacted. “I care enough about your mental health enough that we’re going to take a 48-minute break from your phones,” Richard said. Parents who spoke with 40/29 on Sunday have mixed feelings about the potential phone ban.“When I was growing up, we didn’t have cell phones at all and we managed,” Bentonville parent Regan Russell said. “In my opinion, that’s kind of what the office is for.”Others are not sure how they’ll be able to reach their kids and worry about not being able to connect with them in case of emergency. “If there was a shooting or anything like that, I would want him to be able to get a hold of me immediately and let me know,” Rogers parent Britni Conaway said.
Senate Bill 142 was filed last week in the Arkansas State Legislature and is expected to be presented to the education committee on Monday.
The bill is centered on an act known as “Bell to Bell no Cell,” and aims to require districts to create a policy to prohibit cell phones throughout the whole school day.
“It’s nearly impossible to teach an effective class when kids have their phone,” NWA teacher Jennifer Richard said.
Richard has been teaching in Northwest Arkansas for 20 years and has seen phones change how classrooms operate. She started making her classroom a no-phone environment when teaching was impacted.
“I care enough about your mental health enough that we’re going to take a 48-minute break from your phones,” Richard said.
Parents who spoke with 40/29 on Sunday have mixed feelings about the potential phone ban.
“When I was growing up, we didn’t have cell phones at all and we managed,” Bentonville parent Regan Russell said. “In my opinion, that’s kind of what the office is for.”
Others are not sure how they’ll be able to reach their kids and worry about not being able to connect with them in case of emergency.
“If there was a shooting or anything like that, I would want him to be able to get a hold of me immediately and let me know,” Rogers parent Britni Conaway said.
