By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
When students return to the classrooms at Bowling Green City Schools later this month, they may experience some separation anxiety – from their cell phones.
Required by the state to adopt a cell phone policy, BG School rules will require the following:
- In elementary schools, students’ cell phones must be off and stored in their backpacks.
- In the middle school, cell phones must be turned off and stored in lockers.
- In the high school, cell phones must be turned off and be out of sight.
There are some exceptions which are detailed later in this story.
In an effort to reduce distractions from cell phones, the Ohio legislature is requiring school districts to adopt policies restricting their use starting this new school year.
In the U.S., 95% of teens aged 13 to 17 have access to smart cell phones, according to the National Education Association. Students, on average, receive 192 alerts per day from their cell phones. That’s about 11 notifications per waking hour – one every five minutes.
Cell phones and their applications are designed to catch the attention of students, which is disruptive to both learning and relationships, the NEA added. Even when students don’t check their cell phones, the presence of a phone affects their ability to think.
Last year, Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 250, the new law requiring school districts in Ohio to establish an official policy governing cell phone usage during school hours. The goal is to minimize student use of cell phones in K-12 schools.
The intent of the bill makes sense, according to Bowling Green Superintendent Ted Haselman.
“Students have become so attached to their technology,” Haselman said earlier this week. “That is the biggest challenge.”
Students who need their phones to check on health issues, such as diabetes, are allowed to use their phones for those health checks.
According to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, research shows that student use of cell phones in schools has negative effects on student performance and mental health. Cell phones distract students from classroom instruction, resulting in smaller learning gains and lower test scores. Increased cell phone use has led to higher levels of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues in children.
With the new rules at BG City Schools, students in grades 9 through 12 are prohibited from using cell phones except:
- When the principal authorizes a student/classroom to use cell phones for educational purposes during instructional time.
- During the student’s lunch break.
- Between classes.
- During school-related events and functions, such as after-school activities and extra-curricular activities.
- While riding in school vehicles, though distracting behavior that creates an unsafe environment will not be tolerated and may result in the loss of use of the cell phone while in a school vehicle.
Students in grades Pre-K through 8 are prohibited from using cell phones except:
- When the principal authorizes a student/classroom to use cell phones for educational purposes during instructional time.
- During school-related events and functions.
- While riding in school vehicles.
When the use of cell phones is prohibited, all phones must be powered off completely – not just placed in vibrate or silent mode – and stored out of sight, in a designated location determined by the building administrator.
When the use of cell phones is permitted, all phones must be placed in silent mode and must be stored out of sight when directed by the administrator.
Possession of a cell phone by a student during school hours and during school-related events is a privilege that may be forfeited by any student who fails to abide by the terms of this policy, or otherwise abuses this privilege.
Violations of this policy may result in the following disciplinary measures, depending on the number of violations – verbal warning, confiscation, conference with parents, loss of privilege to bring phone to school, suspension, expulsion, and Friday/Saturday school.
Parents/guardians are advised that the best way to get in touch with their child during the school day is by calling the school office. Students may use school phones to contact parents/guardians during the school day.
