by Kim Jarrett
A proposed law would force Tennessee students to go without their cellular communication devices during instructional time.
House Bill 932 is on the House calendar for Monday. The bill requires local school systems to have policies banning electronic devices including tablet devices, laptops, portable gaming systems, and other electronic devices in addition to cellphones while class is in session, with some exceptions.
Under the measure, school board officials would need to institute a policy that specifically “prohibits a student from using a wireless communication device during instructional time,” post it to their website, and publish to their website a written policy stating that students who violate the policy could have their devices confiscated by a teacher.
The bill, sponsored by Education Instruction Subcommittee Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka), also includes a provision allowing teachers to let students “use a wireless communication device for educational purposes” and specifically notes that students cannot be penalized for using their cellphones during an emergency.
Many Tennessee school systems already have policies regarding cellphones in place. Hamblen County Schools, which has about 10,000 students, bans them for the entire school day.
“Personal communication devices were undermining safety and negatively impacting the learning environment in Hamblen County Schools,” Superintendent Arnold Bunch told the House Education Committee this week. “We experienced drug deals that were orchestrated on phones, threats of mass violence, bullying, cheating, framing of other students, filming of and then sharing fights within our schools, sharing of inappropriate images of underage students and overall distractions in the classrooms.”
Teachers and parents have supported the ban, Bunch said.
An EDChoice survey shows that 71% of parents support a ban on cellphones in schools, while 38% support allowing them in the classroom.
The bill moved out of the House Education Committee with a vote of 16-1. Rep. Gloria Johnson,D-Knoxville, a retired teacher, cast the only “no vote.”
The Senate Education Committee passed the bill unanimously. It is currently on the Calendar Committee awaiting a vote by the full Senate.
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Kim Jarrett is an associate editor at The Center Square.
I can only say that it is about time! Actually it is way past time for this to happen.
COMMON SENSE IS BACK.
Phones are a distraction.
Students must be focused, if they are going to learn.
Personally, I’d like to see Jr High & High Schools be divided by gender.
Boys go to all boys schools. GIRLS GO TO ALL GIRLS SCHOOL.
Bring back H S Military Prep Academies.
Bring back H S Vocational Ed
Bring back Home Economics
Bring back Civics
Provide financial literacy training ( aka budget, acciunt balancing, savings. Filing income taxes. How to become an entrepreneur, including how to seek investors.
Say no to credit cards.
One full year of studying the Founders, the development & research on US Constitution, the Federalst Papers, the Declaration of Independence ( a declaration of war).
Our Tennessee Heroes ie President Andrew Jackson, Davy Crockett, Sgt Alvin C York, etc.
The importance of Agriculture in maintaining independence.
How to distinguish Marxism when it creeps into education & culture.
It is no surprise she is against a bill that counters this: “We experienced drug deals that were orchestrated on phones, threats of mass violence, bullying, cheating, framing of other students, filming of and then sharing fights within our schools, sharing of inappropriate images of underage students and overall distractions in the classrooms.”, while screaming for school safety. She is extremely low IQ and does NOT represent TN values.
Come on Knoxville, you can send better than her to the State House.