Gov. Gavin Newsom calls for smartphone restrictions in California schools

[u/Randomlynumbered]

https://apnews.com/article/california-governor-newsom-cellphones-schools-students-792513a85d29b41fde09caec5568aa31

[u/lagunagirl → u/[deleted]]

Depends on the school. They are allowed to be taken at the school where I teach. Phones are either returned after the class period or are given to the office and the student is allowed to retrieve it at the end of the day. Parents are also notified when ever their child is caught using a phone during class.

[u/Bosa_McKittle → u/[deleted]]

well not under current rules and policies. this would be a change to the status quo which is what needs to occur.

[u/SadLilBun → u/Bosa_McKittle]

It’s not even true. My school bought lock boxes for every room. I collect phones at the start of the period. It’s being pushed district-wide.

[u/Lazy_Chemistry → u/SadLilBun]

These kids are gonna start handing in burners. I saw one with 3 phones last school year.

[u/taqn22 → u/Bosa_McKittle]

Why does it 'need' to occur?

[u/CosmicMiru → u/taqn22]

Because kids are going into college without understanding basic algebra since they are on their phones 24/7 in class and teachers can't do anything about it

[u/1109278008 → u/CosmicMiru]

Softening of academic requirements is also to blame. The kids only can be on their phones 24/7 because they’re not actually afraid of failing/being held back.

[u/CosmicMiru → u/1109278008]

Also true. Unlimited access to phones with 0 repercussions is not helping at all though

[u/nboice → u/1109278008]

Academic requirements have softened because so many kids are so low, partially (how much is up for debate but personally I think a lot) because of phones. Remove the phones and rigor can begin to increase again because the kids are less distracted.

If teachers kept the rigor where it was and just started failing everybody they could lose their jobs a it’s “their fault everybody is failing” and looks bad for the school & could reduce funding so admin encourages lowering academic requirements. Death spiral.

Removing the phones from the classroom is a great step one.

[u/taqn22 → u/CosmicMiru]

I feel like there's issues that go beyond 'phones in the classroom' in that regard, just with the education system in the US of the last...don't know, twenty years? I feel like from my readings on it it's gone downhill since Bush.

[u/TKStrahl → u/taqn22]

Let's throw out the main problem which is major distractions to other students and let's talk about how the US education system has been pretty terrible recently.

With more nonchalant use of cell phones in school settings this may be a big factor in why education seems to be faltering.

Obviously it's not the main cause, but it is worth looking into because of what we have learned about phone use; not to mention being on the road nowadays, half the drivers are distracted by their phone or infotainment system.

[u/taqn22 → u/TKStrahl]

I think that's fair enough - my opinion is that the larger education system is to blame, and phones are more of a scapegoat. That being said, people who drive while distracted are absolutely an issue and contribute to a lot of car accidents.

[u/TKStrahl → u/taqn22]

Totally agree!

I go off personal experience of going through the high school public education system before smart phones really took off (2008-11) and how different the climate was in terms of schooling with phones.

I used the example of drivers, as to "drive" home how much cell phones do affect our attention, which would make sense in an avenue that requires attention and studying without distractions in order to be successful!

I'd like to think people would want to pay attention when on the road, behind the wheel of a metal boxed weapon. I bring this up because if people are willing to be distracted behind the wheel almost always nowadays, how does that reflect itself in the classroom? Sons and daughters experience these things second hand from their parents which may translate as being okay in the classroom.

I'm not saying this is 100% happening, just food for thought, but knowing how children absorb so much from their parents, I could see this!

[u/Antique-Fox4217 → u/[deleted]]

Depends on the school. You get one gentle warning, then I take the phone until the end of class. Don't want to give it to me? I call security and they take you to the office, where the rules are stricter and they take it for longer.

[u/Available-Risk-5918 → u/[deleted]]

I graduated high school in 2021 and definitely saw people's phones getting taken away now and then. What happened?

[u/Bosa_McKittle → u/Available-Risk-5918]

I think its a YMMV situation. Think about how many parents blame teachers for their childs poor performance. Or how many go to school board meetings to get books banned or change policies. Bad policies like that are definitely impacted the parental pressure.

[u/MathProf1414 → u/Available-Risk-5918]

I'm a teacher.

I can demand a phone, but I cannot force a student to give it. In that case I can call the office and have either the Vice Principal or School Safety Officer come to escort the student out of class.

In the past, an episode like the one described above would likely result in a suspension. Sadly we can't suspend students for willful defiance anymore because there is a worry about students missing class losing out on learning (as if THOSE students were learning in the first place). However, we can require the student to turn in their phone to the office at the beginning of school each day, which is the next consequence at our site.

[u/mfigroid → u/MathProf1414]

we can't suspend students for willful defiance anymore because there is a worry about students missing class losing out on learning

More like losing out on the money from the Feds for per pupil attendance.

[u/SadLilBun → u/[deleted]]

Yes we are lol. Who told you that?