Massachusetts lawmakers look to ban cell phone use in schools

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - Governor Maura Healey is now calling for a bell-to-bell cellphone ban in public schools across the state. This recent announcement coincides with a bill introduced by the state’s attorney general earlier this year. According to Governor Healey, the ban aims to make learning distraction free but still includes options for parents to contact their children during the school day if needed.

“It just comes down to mostly just teaching kids responsibility of their own devices and responsibly of when they can use their devices and when not to be and to use them responsibility doesn’t just mean when to use them but how to use them,” West Springfield High School teacher Samantha Wilson told us.

Governor Healey released a statement saying in part:

“Restricting cellphone use in our schools will support parents and teachers, protect the mental health of young people, and help our students learn and grow."

Western Mass News reached out to the Massachusetts Teachers Association for comment. They told us they agree with device free learning in schools, and say they support a similar bill introduced back in January by Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, titled The Study Act, which promotes distraction free education for youth.

The MTA calls the study act a “common sense approach” in a statement, which goes on to say:

“Cellphones and other devices used for staying connected to social media have proven to be too great a distraction during the school day and are easily turned into tools for creating conflict — all to students’ detriment. "

“Students tend to be distracted easily when they have their devices on them, so when we introduced the yonder pouches last year there was a significant decrease in seeing them in the classroom, Wilson shared.

Wilson added that while these pouches have been helpful, they aren’t fool proof, and students are still able to break the rules. She says she understands the governor’s push, but believes there should be more individual accountability when it comes to student cell phone usage, especially with social media.

“These apps are available during the school day and that’s where I see the majority of cyber bullying and the majority of violence,” Wilson explained. “There’s not enough conversation around what are they actually doing on their cell phones, what are they actually doing when they aren’t doing their classwork? It’s not so much that they’re on it, it’s just that nobody knows what they’re really doing, and the teachers and parents don’t either and that’s what I really worry about.”

Governor Healey also stated that this new policy should be developed in close partnership with parents and must provide ways for them to get in touch with their children during the school day.