What Michigan’s New Cell Phone Ban Means for Students
A lot of Michigan kids are heading back to school this week, and there’s one change that’s probably going to take some getting used to.
For the first time, public schools across the state are required to have rules in place that keep students off their cell phones during class. In my opinion, this one is long overdue.
And if you’ve got a kid in school, just know that every district may handle it a little differently. Some could be stricter than others, so it’s worth checking exactly what your school is doing.
Michigan Schools Can Handle Phones Differently
The new law basically says students need to stay off their phones during class, but exactly how schools handle that is going to vary from district to district. I know this is probably going to feel like torture for some kids, but I really think it’s important.
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Some kids may just have to keep their phones in their backpacks or lockers. Other schools could use those locked phone pouches. And depending on the district, students may also have to stay off their phones during lunch or while moving between classes.
Why Michigan Is Cracking Down on Phones
The whole idea here is pretty simple: get kids off their phones, cut down on distractions, and hopefully get them paying a little more attention in class.
There’s also the hope that less screen time during the school day means less cyberbullying and more actual face-to-face interaction with other kids. Crazy concept, I know.
There are still exceptions for things like medical needs, IEPs, 504 plans, emergencies, and certain classroom activities, so it’s not like every phone is being locked away no matter what.
And yeah, students are probably going to hate this at first. Some parents probably will too. But I really think this is one of those changes that could end up being a good thing for everybody.
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Gallery Credit: JR