Virginia Schools to Implement Restrictions on Student Smartphone Use

Virginia's Gov. Glenn Youngkin has officially issued an executive order restricting mobile phones from being used in public schools, making it the latest state to adopt restrictions against the handheld devices.

The executive order is set to establish state guidance and model policies for local school systems, which will be adopted by January. Phones are reportedly restricted due to concerns over students' academic achievement and mental health.

With new legislation passed last year, Florida was the first state to prohibit phones in schools. This year, Indiana and Ohio enacted their laws, and numerous other states have lately considered so-called "phone-free schools" legislation.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 76% of public schools restrict "non-academic cell phone use" for the 2021-2022 school year.

In Virginia, school districts progressively prohibit or severely limit students' phone use. For instance, last month, Loudoun County Public Schools in northern Virginia implemented a new policy banning elementary school children from using smartphones during the school day.

Middle school students are permitted to use mobile devices before or after school but must keep them in their lockers. Students in high school are required to turn off their phones and store them in a classroom locker or storage space during class time.

Comments on the New Smartphone Restriction

Dan Adams, a Loudoun County Public Schools spokesperson, said the school system will have to wait for explicit state directions. However, he said the school system is certain that its policy is age-appropriate and handles electronics-free instructional time.

In recent months, the school board for Hanover County Public Schools, located west of Richmond, has focused on the topic extensively. Assistant Superintendent Chris Whitley said the board intended to consider it at a meeting on Tuesday.

Youngkin's ruling calls for public involvement through listening sessions and the establishment of a precise definition of "cell phone-free education."

Todd Reid, a Virginia Department of Education spokesperson, stated in an email that school divisions must adopt policy by January 1. However, sources imply that presidential directives governing local educational policies might be difficult to implement.

Harms of Cell Phone Usage

Before the COVID-19 epidemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention observed a 40% rise in students' chronic unhappiness, hopelessness, and suicide ideation. Notably, exam results, particularly in arithmetic for grades 4 and 8, fell to their lowest point on record.

Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist and author, reportedly feels that cell phones, particularly social media and messaging applications, are to blame for this problem. He claims that phones have evolved from simple communication devices to perpetual sources of distraction.

Notably, a Pew Research Center research found that 40% of youth had reduced their use of social media. The survey reportedly implies a shift away from today's youth's always-on mindset.

The findings raise concerns regarding adolescent cell phone use and online social networking use. Studies show that 38% of children claim they spend "too much" time on their cell phones and 27% on social media.