Today, we roundup some of the many headlines that discuss the banning of cellphones as students head back to school in many parts of the world. Part 1 of this year’s Back-to-School scan provided an overview of some of the many election-related education stories that have appeared in the press as the new school year begins in the northern hemisphere (Politics, Policies, and Polarization: Scanning the 2024-25 Back-To-School Headlines in the US). Part 2 brought together stories addressing the cost of supplies, shortages – particularly of bus drivers, hot weather and other issues (Supplies, Shortages, and Other Disruptions? Scanning the Back-to-School Headlines for 2024-25).
Why Schools Are Racing to Ban Student Phones , The New York Times
Cellphone bans in schools take center stage amid mental health crisis, ABC News
There are cellphone bans in schools around the world. Do any of them work?, CBC News
What Research Shows About Smartphone Bans In Schools, Science Friday
Saying phones should be banned in schools is easy. Actually doing it is a lot more complicated, Yahoo! News
School Cellphone Bans Complicated by Logistics, Politics and Violence, Politico
Do smartphone bans work if parents push back?, USA Today
Parents push back on school cellphone bans, K-12 Dive
78% of parents polled want their children to have cellphone access during the school day in case there’s an emergency. Some 58% said cellphone access is needed so parents can get in touch with their children and find out where they are, and 48% said contact is needed to coordinate transportation.
Why do parents oppose cell phone bans? They want to reach their kids if ‘the worst happens.’, Chalkbeat
Cellphone Bans Around the World
Back to School in Central Europe… With or Without Phones, Balkan Institute
European schools crack down on mobile phone use over health concerns, Yahoo! News
Back to school: France tests smartphone ban in 200 middle schools, EuroNews
The state does not contribute to funding this test ban, leaving the financial burden to the country’s departments responsible for funding middle schools, some of which consider it too heavy.
France to trial ban on mobile phones at school for children under 15, The Guardian
Mobile phones to be banned in Greek schools from September, Euronews
Hungary sacks principal for opposing new phone ban in schools, The Strait Times
Netherlands: Nationwide ban on phones in schools underway, DW
Cell phones, smart watches, and tablets are now banned for pupils at Dutch primary and secondary schools. The Dutch government called them a “distraction” that reduces academic performance and social interaction.
Schools in Singapore impose phone bans to reduce distractions, rekindle social interaction, The Strait Times
Cellphone Bans in Canada
On the first day of school, Canada’s new student cellphone bans will face a crucial test, The Globe And Mail
Cellphones will be banned in Ontario classrooms when students return next week. Here is how it will work, CP24
Ontario’s new school cellphone ban has started. Why we should prepare for ‘a hard transition’, Toronto Star
B.C. brings in ‘bell-to-bell’ school cellphone ban, CBC
B.C.’s phone ban in schools: What students and parents/guardians need to know, Vancouver Sun
Cellphone bans in Maritime schools should increase academic performance, says school psychologist, CTV News
We are constantly having parts of our brain being drawn to the phone…So, by just either having it on the desk, in our backpack or in our pocket, as long as it’s in reach of us, our brain is continuously thinking about that. And that diverts the attention away from what the teachers are saying… – Clinical and school psychologist Todd Cunningham
Back to school: Optimism abounds as new cellphone rules set to begin in N.S. classrooms, Global News
Parents hung up on Manitoba’s school cell phone ban, The Winnipeg Sun
How will the new school cellphone bans actually be enforced?, CBC
Cellphone Bans in the United States
Schools across the U.S. restrict cellphones amid growing behavior, mental health, academic concerns, CBS News
Educators…worry that constant access to social media can adversely impact kids’ mental health. A number of studies have made that correlation, finding that time spent on platforms like Instagram and TikTok can lead to anxiety, depression and low self-esteem as kids get harassed or embarrassed online and compare their lives with the polished and carefully curated narratives crafted by others.
A Look at State Efforts to Ban Cellphones in Schools and Implications for Youth Mental Health, KFF
Back To School But Not To Screens: States Ramp Up Cellphone Bans, Forbes
Eight states have already enacted laws about cell phone use in K-12 schools, including outright bans in Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, and South Carolina…Several others are inching closer to doing the same.
Cell Phone Ban Wagon, The Grade
Cellphone bans becoming more common in California schools, EdSource
‘It’s completely wreaking havoc’: Phone ban in Bay Area schools off to a rough start, SF Gate
Many Connecticut schools are banning cellphones ahead of new school year, and more could follow, CT Insider
Indiana’s cellphone ban means less school drama. But students miss their headphones, NPR
‘We’re not there yet,’ Eric Adams says of NYC-wide school cellphone ban, Chalkbeat New York
Back to school for many NYC students means turn off your cell phone, even without a citywide ban, New York Daily News
South Carolina Board of Education approves statewide cellphone ban, WCBD
Several Texas school districts adopt cellphone bans in classroom. Here’s a list, Austin American-Statesman
Schools across Wisconsin are limiting cell phone use this year, Wisconsin Public Radio
For some historical perspective on how the issues have evolved since the school closures of the COVID-19 pandemic, explore the back-to-school headlines from previous years:
- Fall 23: Crises and Concerns: Scanning the 2023-24 Back-To-School Headlines (Part 1) Natural Disasters, Climate Change and the Start of School in 2023: Scanning the Back-to-School Headlines (Part 2); Educational Issues in the News Across the US: Scanning the Back-to-School Headlines (Part 3)
- Fall 22: Hope and trepidation: Scanning the back-to-school headlines in the US; “Over it” but unable to escape it: Going back to school with Covid in 2022; Going back to school in 2022 (Part 3): Scanning headlines from around the world;
- Fall 21: Going back to school has never been quite like this (Part 1): Pandemic effects in the US; Going back to school has never been quite like this (Part 2): Quarantines, shortages, wildfires & hurricanes;
- Fall 20: What does it look like to go back to school? It’s different all around the world…;
- Fall 19: Headlines around the world: Back to school 2019 edition.
International Education News 