324 810 | More California students may be banned from using cell phones at school under new bill, March 20, 2019

https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-school-smartphone-ban-20190320-story.html
https://archive.is/GmBzi

California students could be restricted or banned from using smartphones at school under a bill by a state lawmaker who says the devices can interfere with classroom learning.

The measure by Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) would require school boards to adopt policies that limit or prohibit the use of cell phones on school grounds, leaving it up to them what their rules would do.

Last month, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School Board adopted a policy requiring children in grades K-5 to have cell phones turned off and stored out of sight during school hours, while older students face similar restrictions but can obtain teacher approval to use a smartphone for academic purposes.

Twenge found evidence that mobile device screen time and social media use may increase depression and suicide among American teenagers. Eighth-grade students who spend 10 or more hours per week on social media are 56% more likely to describe themselves as unhappy than those who devote less time to social media, Twenge said in her findings.

Electronic devices also impact classroom instruction, she said.

“It's just too tempting for teens to look at their phones during class — and when they do, they are not only distracting themselves, but distracting their classmates and their teacher,” Twenge said Wednesday in an email to The Times.

Muratsuchi said the intent of his bill is to have school boards decide what policies fit for their schools.

“There is growing national and international evidence of the social and emotional consequences of too much screen time,” he said.