HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHP) — Lawmakers in Pennsylvania are considering a statewide policy on cell phone use in schools as discussions grow over whether devices should be banned from classrooms entirely.
During a two-hour hearing hosted by the Senate Education Committee, students, parents, educators, and lawmakers debated the role of phones in education.
Dr. Ashley Laboda, a pediatrician and parent, highlighted the inconsistency in current policies, stating, “Teachers are in a daily battle to compete with screens for the attention of their students.”
The Pennsylvania School Board Association estimates that 425 of the state’s 500 school districts have some form of electronic device policy.
Raymond Omer, superintendent of West Middlesex Area and Reynolds School Districts, noted that allowing phone use during designated times has been beneficial, saying, “The feedback from the teachers is that the kids are more intentionally focused on academics.”
High school students Atticus Mitchell and Camryn Hoover shared their perspectives, with Mitchell expressing concern that banning phones could harm student-teacher relationships. Hoover added that mental health issues stem more from social media than phone use in schools.
The Pennsylvania School Board Association emphasized the need for broad legislation that allows districts flexibility in policy implementation.