PSEA backs phone-free policy to boost student learning

As a growing number of states move to restrict student cellphone use in classrooms, the Pennsylvania State Education Association is advocating for legislation which would mandate strict limits on use of mobile devices in schools.

The new legislation would affect roughly 500 school districts and more than 1.7 million K-12 students across the state.

Jeff Ney, vice president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, testified this week before the state House Education and Health Committees, noting students using their cellphones for text messaging or phone calls disrupt learning throughout the school day.

“We got studies where there’s up to 237 different notifications on average per day that students get, and just some of them are during the learning time of the day,” Ney pointed out. “We just realized that our students are just not equipped to deal with that many notifications and concentrate on the studies which they’re in school to do.”

Ney is urging lawmakers to look at banning all internet-connected devices in schools, not just phones but smartwatches and tablets, too. The association supports Senate Bill 1014, saying it offers strong statewide guidelines while giving districts flexibility to tailor rules with community feedback.

Pew Research found many K-12 parents who oppose phone bans worry about staying connected with their child, with 70% calling it a major concern.

Across the country, including Pennsylvania, youth mental health problems are rising. Ney pointed out while smartphones are not the only cause, their increased use tracks with growing depression, anxiety and poor emotional regulation. Students have become heavily dependent on their devices and the constant stream of algorithm-driven content aimed at young people is making it harder for them to focus.

“Now we all also understand that our students’ brains are still developing,” Ney emphasized. “They don’t know how to adjust to all of these different things at one specific time, so it is leading to so many different anxiety issues, depression issues, and especially a lot of bullying issues that we’re seeing within our schools.”

Ney argued any new policies should be developed with input from parents, educators, and communities. He added in case of a school emergency mobile devices can create safety risks during these emergencies. He stressed statewide guidance is needed so teachers are not left policing phones on their own.

Related: Trump’s Dept. of Education cuts may cause larger PA class sizes and fewer resources for students