A bill prohibiting student cell phones in the classroom progressed through the Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee on Monday.
House Bill 3913 proposes establishing a one-year pilot program to provide public schools with money to designate classrooms as “phone-free spaces.”
Schools might utilize grant funds to purchase equipment for storing students’ cell phones during the day, as outlined in the bill.
The law would require schools to establish a policy for kids to use cell phones in emergencies during school hours.
18-Year-Old High School Student Assault 4 Teachers In Pittsburgh For Taking Away The Cellphone
The pilot initiative will involve nine schools and will continue until the 2024-2025 school year.
The measure does not detail the financial implications of the trial program. When questioned, the bill’s author, Rep. Chad Caldwell, a Republican from Enid, stated that the number is subject to change.
“The advantage of the bill is that it does not endorse a specific method, making it flexible in terms of cost. I know of one solution that could cost around $5 to $10 per classroom,” Caldwell explained. Some are priced at $30 per pupil. It depends on the program that the school believes would most effectively benefit them and their students.
New Bill Could Mandate Public Schools To Teach LGBTQ+ History In Washington
Caldwell also answered concerns about the specifics of emergency policies regarding cell phone usage.
Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Oklahoma City, stated that children are now sometimes forced to use a cell phone to inform their parents about a school shooting.
Caldwell stated his belief that those circumstances may be improved in environments without phones.
Security experts suggest that limiting children’s access to their phones can reduce distractions and noise, allowing for better focus and guidance from a single authority figure, such as the teacher. This approach may better serve students in their learning process.
According to Caldwell, certain schools in Oklahoma have already implemented a policy of prohibiting cell phones in the classroom. He mentioned that the law has a significant amount of flexibility included into it.
Caldwell stated that the ultimate goal is to redirect pupils’ attention from their cell phones to the classroom.
Similar measures are being considered by other states. Washington State’s legislation aims to prohibit students from using cell phones, with certain limited exemptions. A Virginia bill granting local school districts the power to create policy on student cell phone use has been approved by the Senate and is now under review by a House committee.