There is a growing movement nationwide to ban cellphones in schools.
On Tuesday, the North Carolina House Education committee approved HB 87, which would require each school district to adopt its own policy to eliminate or severely restrict student access to cellphones during class time. It would take effect next school year
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The bill sponsor, state Rep. Neal Jackson, R-Moore and Randolph counties, said he put the bill together after talking to his local teachers and school leaders. They’ve told him getting phones out of students’ hands during class makes a huge difference.
“It removes distractions from the kids,” Jackson said. “It keeps them from playing games on their phones. It keeps them from cheating, and it keeps them from being addicted to their phone and focusing on their teachers.”
Rep. Brian Biggs, R-Randolph, said it would also help kids feel less self-conscious when they have to solve problems or give presentations in front of the class.
“Now somebody is not snapchatting you, they're not taking a picture of you,” Biggs said. “You're going up there, and you're more comfortable. So I think it's going to help with bullying.”
About two-thirds of the state's school districts already have policies on cell phone use. Some schools require students to leave phones in locked pouches all day. Others have phone bins at the front of each classroom, but allow students to use their phones between classes.
Either option would be acceptable under the proposal. It would also allow exceptions if teachers want students to be able to use their phones for class work.
“We're not saying there's one size fits all,” Jackson said. “We're saying local control is the best control. Each school board can figure that out.”
Child health advocate Tiffany Gladney with NC Child urged lawmakers to approve the proposal.
"Research has linked both screen time and social media use to an increased risk of anxiety, depression, bullying, aggression and even eating disorders," Gladney said.
Not everyone agrees with the idea of a ban. Rep. Marcia Morey, D-Durham, said she's already getting pushback from angry parents.
"They're worried about being in touch with their child," Morey said. "Especially if it's an emergency, if it's an active shooter, they want to be in touch with their kids.
Committee co-chair David Willis said as a father of three school-aged students, he understands that concern.
"But the last thing we want [students] doing at that point, if there is something -- an emergency -- going on, is fiddling with their phone," Willis said. "They need to be following instructions."
The state Senate has its own version of a school cell phone ban, and it’s much stricter than the House version. The Senate is scheduled to begin discussing its bill in committee Wednesday.