State-Wide
PHONE BAN
While the intention of reducing distractions and improving focus in students is understandable, the ban goes too far. Phones are essential tools for communication, organization and learning. Banning phones would ignore how important technology has become in the world we’re preparing students to enter. Phones allow for quick and reliable communication. Parents, coaches or employers may need to get in contact with students about plans or scheduling. While the bill would allow communication through school telephones, those systems aren’t always immediately available and wouldn’t have the bandwidth to support the communicative needs of the entire student body. In situations with safety concerns, medical needs or any family Is This Really The Solution? T here have been widespread discussions surrounding the allowance of personal mobile devices in schools. Area schools Seaman and Topeka Public Schools have completely banned the use of phones and other communicative devices during school hours while Shawnee Heights has stuck with more lenient policies. However, everything will change next school year as the Kansas Legislature has decided to crack down on these policies throughout every school in the state, public and privately-owned alike. The Kansas Legislature has been looking into barring phones from schools for quite some time now, The Kansas Legislature passed a bill to completely ban phones from schools K-12 which will go into effect next school year.
arguing that they increase anxiety, reduce productivity and stop authentic relationships from forming between students. Senator Chase Blasi, one of the two lawmakers to propose this bill, believes that phones should be removed quickly to reduce the amount of damage done to students’ education. As of next school year, students won’t be allowed to bring any personal mobile device to school during instructional hours unless they’re exempt for educational or health reasons. This means leaving the devices at home or in a vehicle out of the building.
The four time Super Bowl champions are moving across the border after disputes and multiple conversations.
Senators Chase Blasi and Dinah Sykes, stand on Senate floor and propose a K-12 phone ban bill ahead of the 2026 legislative session on Jan. 13, 2025. It was supported by 28 other senators. Photo courtesy of Sherman Smith
The Kansas City Chiefs have been dominating the headlines and not just because of their performance on the field. Chiefs’ owner Clark Hunt and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly struck a deal to build a stadium near the Kansas Speedway & Legends. The Chiefs current stadium was opened in 1972 which makes it the third oldest current stadium in the NFL behind the Packers’ Lambeau Stadium and the Bears’ Soldier Field. This prompted a vote to have a sales tax in Missouri for the Chiefs and Royals to make renovations they’d need on their existing stadiums. The vote failed which prompted discussions about moving to Kansas. This news came as a surprise for many Chiefs fans in Kansas and brought a lot of excitement for fans. “I would probably look to go to more games, because it’s closer and I think they’re going to build a system that’s going to be more reasonable for fans to get into the area, because getting into Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadium right now is a nightmare to get in and out of there,” Tracy Kutscher, math teacher, said. Some fans speculate that the move was more than just the Chiefs moving to Kansas because of a failed bill. Despite not being a chiefs fan, senior Nathan Burnett believes the Kansas Economy had something to do with Kansas wanting the
Chiefs so bad. “Economically wise, I feel like Kansas could have a lot more money mostly in the Kansas City, Kansas part because it creates new jobs and Kansas definitely wanted that,” Burnett said. Kansas plans to have 20,000 construction jobs to not only build the stadium but also build training facilities in Olathe. The relocation will also plan to have 4,000 permanent jobs for the Chiefs. The stadium is planned to be built near Legends in Wyandotte County. Not only will the stadium be built, but so will dining, retail and hotels. The stadium itself will cost an estimated $3 Billion to build. It will be the second most expensive stadium in NFL history, just behind the Chargers and Rams’ Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles at $5.5 billion. Up to 70% of the funding for the Chiefs will come from Kansas state STAR (Sales Tax And Revenue) bonds. The Chiefs are planning to contribute $1 Billion for the development. No matter how much it’ll cost, senior Royce Daniels is ready to possibly go to his first game. “The news made me even more excited to go see a game, because I’ve never seen one before,” Daniels said.
emergencies access to a personal phone makes a real difference. Taking away the option of phones adds unnecessary risk and stress for students and adults alike. Not only that, but phones are also useful for school related tasks. In some cases, a student’s computer isn’t readily available, making phones their most reliable resource for their academics. They may use their phones to access Canvas, as a homework tool or participate in class activities. One class that regularly uses phones as a tool is Marching Band. By using an app called UDB students can efficiently see formations for performances, replacing the previous inconvenient and clunky packets. Additionally, the world is technologically advancing and schools should adapt to the change. Functioning in the modern world relies heavily on technology, especially smartphones. According to the National Library of Medicine, well over half the global population owns smartphones and the number is only
growing. Instead of banning phones, schools should be teaching students how to manage their devices. Learning how to avoid distractions and use technology productively are real-life skills. If the goal of schools is to prepare the youth for the future, then Senate Bill 302 is counterproductive. Overall, the Kansas phone ban is simply a step backwards. Phones support communication, enhance learning, class participation and reflect the realities of today’s digital age. Banning phones entirely isn’t the only solution. Schools should focus on balanced policies that encourage responsible use. Clear rules, structured phone-free times and consequences for misuse can address distractions without completely removing the devices. Shawnee Heights’ current phone policy could continue to benefit both students and teachers as long as there is a little more resilience and discipline. Teaching responsibility is more effective than enforcing avoidance.
A rendering of what the stadium could possibly look like. There’s still discussion about what the stadium will be. Photo courtesy of Fox4KC
Chiefs Owner Clark Hunt and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly hold up a chiefs jersey with the number representing the year they expect the move to Kansas to officially happen (2031). Photo courtesy of Topeka Capital Journal
4 | Phone Ban Written and designed by Lydia Landes
Bond Update | 5 Chiefs to Kansas | 5
Written and designed by Caleb Franke
Written and designed by Caleb Franke
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