HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A recent state Department of Education survey shows adults and students are deeply divided on cell phone use during school.<\/p>\n
In the spring, the DOE asked staff, students, and families about the impact of cell phones, their school policies and enforcement. <\/p>\n
The report comes as more than 30 states now have laws restricting electronic devices in public schools and Hawaii considers a ban as well. <\/p>\n
For now, each DOE school sets their own rules. <\/p>\n
More than 85% of Hawaii public schools have a cell phone policy. The most common is requiring devices be turned off and stored out of sight. <\/p>\n
The problem for teachers is that many students ignore the rules and enforcement is lacking.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe kids would always kind of sneak it out, waistband, kids are very creative in how they do things,\u201d said Aaron Kubo, a social studies teacher at Hilo Intermediate School. \u201cThey\u2019d be texting or taking pictures and things like that and going on social media. … We did end up with a lot of different confrontations, a lot of \u2018he said,\u2019 \u2018they said,\u2019 and fights and things like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI would ask kids, hey, put your phone in a bag or a pocket, and get told F off,\u201d said John Fitzpatrick, a science teacher at Kulanihakoi High School. \u201cJust asking kids to put their phone away can be a like major combat.\u201d<\/p>\n
This year, Hilo Intermediate School implemented the mandatory use of Yondr pouches. Students cannot access their devices until the school day ends.<\/p>\n
\u201cEssentially the cell phone and any kind of other wireless device, simply goes right into the pouch and literally, little snippet here and it actually seals. So the pouch stays inside their bag, so it\u2019s with them the whole time,\u201d Kubo said, adding that he\u2019s doing a lot less policing and confiscating devices and there\u2019s much less fighting.<\/p>\n
\u201cKids are now having to interact with each other more,\u201d she said. \u201cThey\u2019re having to talk to each other more.\u201d<\/p>\n
The DOE\u2019s statewide survey shows teachers, staff and families believe cell phones are harmful to learning, student engagement and school safety. <\/p>\n
Many teachers say cell phones contribute to bullying and create mental health issues in teens. <\/p>\n
\u201cI was at Waena before this school, and cell phones weren\u2019t even allowed before school or at lunch and recess, and it cut down on the number of fights,\u201d Fitzpatrick said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe difficulty of getting students to engage in class because they always want to be on their cell phone instead of doing their work, they should be banned.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not everyone supports a full-on ban, and instead advocate teaching responsible use and self-regulation. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hard for me to be like, we\u2019re gonna build an app, but you can\u2019t test it on your phone,\u201d said Sarah Milianta-Laffin, a STEM teacher at Ilima Intermediate School who incorporates technology in her teaching.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese devices are not going away. So how do we teach them to use them correctly? How do we teach them the executive management skills?\u201d<\/p>\n
Parents also worry a ban would mean not being able to contact their child in an emergency. <\/p>\n
But those who support a ban say a cell phone\u2019s benefits don\u2019t outweigh the harms. <\/p>\n
\u201cI understand there\u2019s like a huge range of teachers, some teachers like it, but I think for students\u2019 mental health, they should be banned because they\u2019re on Instagram and doing all these apps that just make them depressed,\u201d Fitzpatrick said.<\/p>\n