Ban student cellphones on school premises

For almost two years I’ve had the honor and privilege to serve as a substitute teacher at Albany High School. It’s a great place to get an education with awesome students. I’ve been in over one hundred classes, usually with one of our well-trained, dedicated teachers present. But there is one serious problem that needs to be addressed: cellphones.

Many students misuse their phones in class to text or listen to music. Too often, teachers must waste valuable class time coaxing students to put their phones away. I’ll bet Albany High isn’t the only school in the Capital Region with this problem.

The district’s student code of conduct prohibits students from using their phones except when authorized by a building principal or classroom teacher, and only then for instructional purposes or in an emergency. But these well-meaning exceptions don’t outweigh the distractions and disruptions caused by misuse of phones in the classroom.

The crux of the problem is enforcement. Phones are supposed to be confiscated if misused. Teachers complain but, in my judgement, it is impossible to enforce the code of conduct if students are allowed to bring their phones to school. Most do.

There is a growing body of research indicating that students’ dependence on their phones leads to cognitive impairment. Besides, the misuse of phones is unfair to students motivated to learn.

Superintendent Kaweeda Adams and the school board should revise the code of student conduct to eliminate all exceptions and replace them with an enforceable total ban on student phones on school premises during the school day. I can hear the objections already, not the least that school administrators have other priorities with the State Education Department breathing down their necks. But given the disruption and damage cellphones in class do to education, this should be right up there with the district’s other top priorities.

Let’s prevent a generation of phone zombies and encourage discipline and attention among our students. They deserve no less from us.