TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — As the 2024 school year commenced in August, students at Broward County Public Schools, the sixth largest school district in the United States, found themselves facing a strict prohibition on cellphone use throughout the school day, including during lunch and breaks. This policy aims to direct students’ focus away from their devices, but it has sparked resistance from an unexpected source—parents.
Parents have expressed concerns over the impact of this cellphone ban on their children’s well-being. A survey conducted by the district earlier this fall revealed that nearly 20% of the over 70,000 participants, which included students, educators, and parents, believe the restriction negatively affects students’ mental health. Their primary worry centers around the inability to communicate with family members, especially in emergencies—a significant concern for a district that is home to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the site of a tragic shooting in 2018 that claimed 17 lives.
School officials have stated that students are permitted to use their phones during emergencies and that teachers may grant access for other valid reasons. However, the implementation of this policy has proven uneven. Some educators struggle to monitor students’ phone usage, and it’s become evident that for certain students, especially those without school-issued laptops, their phones serve as crucial tools for accessing online lessons and submitting assignments. Parents argue that having their phones is often necessary for coordinating after-school pickups or seeking advice on issues like bullying.
“I don’t think any of us believes students should be glued to their phones during class,” explained Erin Gohl, a parent and advocate in the district. “What we’re really discussing is providing kids with the tools they need when necessary,” she emphasized, underscoring that these tools can include phones for promoting “positive mental health purposes.”
Howard Hepburn, the Broward County schools superintendent, acknowledged the challenge of expecting students and parents to fully embrace such a strict policy. “I don’t anticipate students or parents of high schoolers to say they don’t want their kids to use cellphones. The idea of an abrupt end to their use is not practical. Change takes time,” he remarked.
Landyn Spellberg, a student advisor to the Broward school board, added that while there are numerous advantages to phone usage, the district’s blanket ban does not assist students in learning how to navigate technology responsibly—something many adults still grapple with. “We need to educate students about the potential downsides of technology use,” he said, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive guidance.
As schools nationwide face similar challenges in managing cellphone use, the debate in Broward County reflects broader concerns about social media’s influence on youth, which experts suggest is nearly all-encompassing. The correlation between increased screen time and rising rates of anxiety and depression among young people underscores the importance of addressing these issues thoughtfully.
___ Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
