Work/Life/School
Cell phone restrictions to be required at schools
I n the old days, students used to bring an apple to their teacher in class. But these days, they’re bringing their Apple iPhone 16—and it’s a problem, according to Sacramento lawmakers, who just passed the state’s first student-cell- phone-use law. Assembly Bill 3216, the Phone-Free Schools Act, was signed into law in September by Gov. Gavin Newsom, requiring school districts to establish smartphone restrictions by July 1, 2026. But many Marin schools are already ahead of the game, with a majority requiring students to place phones or smartwatches into caddies hanging on classroom walls or keep them in backpacks or lockers during class time. The Mill Valley School District, for instance, requires phones turned off and in backpacks from the beginning of the school day until classes are dismissed in the afternoon. In the wake of an assault on a girl by several girls at a Novato middle school—which was partly organized via cell phones—the Novato Unified By Jason Walsh
School District this year asked families to join a pledge not to give their children cell phones until high school. It’s part of what’s been dubbed a “wait until 8th movement.” AB 3216 follows other cell-phone legislation such as AB 272, which in 2019 gave California school districts the authority to regulate the use of smartphones during school hours. Now, it seems, state lawmakers are requiring them to do so. Excessive smartphone use among youth is linked to increased anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. A recent Pew Research Center survey found that 72% of high school and 33% of middle school teachers report cell phone distractions as a major problem. Common Sense Media found that 97% of students use their phones during the school day for a median of 43 minutes. “Combined with the U.S. Surgeon General’s warning about the risks of social media, it is urgent to provide reasonable guardrails for smartphone use in schools,” Newsom said in a statement announcing the law.
Ten sneaky tricks students employ to use their cell phones in class • Dim the brightness on the phone • Change the texting notification • Turn off all sound • Use a neutral-colored cover so it blends in with desk • Place items such as books around phone • Use phone under desk or on lap • Use pen as a testing stylus • Hold phone at angle so screen is harder for others to see • Text behind an open book • Sit near the back of class Source: WikiHow
October 2024
NorthBaybiz 19
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