MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – Tennessee lawmakers passed a statewide ban on cell phones in the classroom Thursday.
The bill now awaits Governor Bill Lee’s signature.
The bill prohibits using a wireless communication device during instruction time, such as a phone, tablet, game, smartwatch, or laptop.
30 to 0. The bill to ban cell phones and other communication devices in the classroom passed overwhelmingly in the Tennessee Senate on Thursday.
“This bill aims to minimize classroom distractions and internet bullying on school campuses,” said State Senator Ferrell Haile (R), who also sponsored the bill.
It was supported on both sides of the aisle. Memphis lawmakers stood up to speak about their support before the vote.
“I think this goes a long way to make sure kids are focusing in school,” said State Senator Raumesh Akbari (D). “I can not unsee what benefit it would be for a child to text or be on the internet during class.”
Although the bill passed overwhelmingly at the capitol, parents in Memphis have mixed feelings.
“You got the pros and cons. The pros are the kids can focus more on the work. But the cons would be if the parents need to get in contact with the kid. There will be no quick way to get in contact with your child,” said Carl Thomas, a parent with a student at a Memphis Shelby County School.
The main concern among parents was about emergencies. They want to make sure their students can contact them during an emergency.
“It can be inconvenient, because if something happens in the middle of the day and they can’t get to somebody to help them then it is more of a hazard than a help,” said Vanessa Smith, a parent with a student at a Memphis Shelby County School.
According to the bill, a teacher can allow a student to use those devices for educational purposes and in the event of an emergency.
It requires local school boards to make a policy prohibiting the devices and the consequences for not following the policy.
Systems like Iota Community Charter Schools already have similar policies in place.
Kirby Middle School students lock their phones away at the beginning of the school day and get them back at the end. The Chief Operating Officer, Chad Everett, for the school system, says cell phones were at the root of many issues for students.
“It also became the perfect distraction, even for the student who really wanted to be engaged in learning,” he said. “It was really easy to reach over if it was there, I just want to see really quick. And it would pull their attention away.”
He said the response has grown in the positive direction as time has gone by.
“And there was a little bit of pushback, but after a while, we saw students being able to engage with one another again,” said Everett.
Once the bill is signed it will be implemented in the 2025- 2026 school year and after.
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