BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — The Bakersfield City School District is moving forward with plans to implement a “no phones in class” policy, following feedback from over 10,000 parents, students, and staff.
FILE – A student at Cyprus High School in Magna, Utah, uses a cell phone during the lunch break on Wednesday, February 1, 2023. (KUTV File Photo: Dario Jokic)
The initiative aligns with the California Phone Free School Act, which mandates school districts to establish phone restrictions by July 1 of next year.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has highlighted the link between excessive phone use and increased anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.
At a recent board meeting, the district shared survey results indicating that while many students use phones to contact family and believe it doesn’t impact learning, older students’ increased phone use raises concerns about behavior and focus.
Both parents and teachers favor restricted phone use, allowing devices only during breaks or emergencies.
School children use their cell phones during the day. (FILE){ }
Franko Besinaiz, a Bakersfield local, expressed support for the policy, stating, “I grew up without phones, and there was a lot more to learn than there was as there is today. I mean, I think you have to be present, not on your phones.”
The survey also revealed that consistency across schools was emphasized as crucial.
Ema Valeria Lopez, a parent with a daughter in the district, initially had mixed feelings but ultimately supported the policy, saying, “I feel like, yes, maybe a phone could be a distraction, but there are parents like myself who work…most of the days I’m 12 hours away from my child.”
The board plans to present the first version of the policy next month, aiming to finalize and communicate it to families and teachers.