BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – During this year’s legislative session, Governor Armstrong signed a new law requiring K-12 public schools in the state to adopt phone-free school polices. For some schools, this change starts Tuesday.
Cell phones have proven to be useful tools when learning. But for many teachers, it has been a struggle to keep the attention of their students with these devices being easily accessible. This law aims to help the situation, and school districts have been instructed to come up with their own cell phone policies.
Graduate Abbigail Schmidt’s phone is filled with pictures taken during class. This year, there won’t be any new photos from the school day.
A new cell phone law requires cell phones to be silenced. It’s up to each school to create cell phone policies or their plans on how to implement the law and make and publish them so parents are aware.
Williston schools will implement Yondr pouches. Students will place their phones in the lockable pouches for the school day.
Mandan schools are giving students the option of leaving their cell phones at home, in their car, in their locker or any other location except on their bodies.
Bismarck Public School District has adopted a similar approach, but it’s allowing each school to decide on storage and penalty details.
“Different levels have different rules on that, and how they’re going to engage with that, but it becomes a re-teach opportunity. Let’s help the kids understand where the rule is coming from, its importance, and why we’re intervening with them and using their phone,” said Dr. Jeff Fastnacht, superintendent of Bismarck Public Schools.
The change has raised some concerns from students as to how effective it will be.
“I think it is only going to last two months before they get less strict on it,” said Jade Schick, a Mandan High School student.
Other students showed support for it during the legislative session, saying:
“Cell phone usage is a significant distraction in the classroom for the reason that it shortens attention spans, encourages negative behaviors, and is a source of cheating. If this bill passes, many schools could flourish, it will promote in-person conversations, help engage learning, and enhance social interactions,” said Addyson Rademacher-Nyame during her testimony for this bill.
We are told parents and teachers asked lawmakers for this change because it will give students the freedom to focus on learning without the distraction of cell phones.
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