Az Lawmakers Push to Ban Phones in Schools Amidst Parental and Teacher Concerns

Arizona is considering a legislative ban on cell phone use in classrooms, sparking mixed reactions from parents and educators. Although the bill has gathered support, there are significant doubts about its practicality.

Tom Horne, Arizona’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, has emerged as a prominent advocate for the proposed ban. At a press conference on August 22, he stressed the urgency of the issue, referring to cell phone usage in schools as “a real emergency.”

Arizona House Bill 2793 recently passed with narrow margins—16 to 13 in the Senate and 31 to 28 in the House—largely backed by Republican lawmakers. The bill, however, was vetoed by Governor Katie Hobbs, who denounced it as an unnecessary mandate for a situation already managed by schools.

“The classroom has become a battleground between instructional time and cell phone usage,” Horne said. He added that allowing districts to manage cell phone rules inadequately addresses classroom dynamics.

In her defense of the veto, Governor Hobbs argued that schools already have policies in place to tackle cell phone distractions. Rep. Beverly Pingerelli, the bill’s sponsor, insisted that the goal is to ensure personal devices are “away for the day” to foster engagement and learning.

This year, California implemented a similar ban, while several other states, including Florida and Louisiana, enforce full prohibitions. However, many Arizona schools already have their individual policies regarding cell phone usage, complicating potential statewide enforcement.

“I’m relieved the governor vetoed it,” said Matt Kopec, a member of the Amphitheater Public Schools Governing Board. He highlighted the need for balanced conversations surrounding focus, mental health, and the safety implications of smartphone access.

Educator Jeanette Rupel from Pueblo High School echoed concerns about a state-mandated ban placing burdens on teachers without providing necessary support or resources. “If the state wants a ban, who will enforce it? Teachers need backing, particularly when dealing with parental reactions,” she stated.

Although Rupel tries to enforce a policy requiring students to keep their phones in their backpacks, she has observed that many educators have resigned to the distraction, noting that cell phones are engineered to captivate attention.

Statistics reveal that children receive their first smartphone by age 11, with 95% of teenagers using them for an average of seven to eight hours daily. A recent study from Common Sense Media indicates that students check their phones approximately 13 times per day, with some reaching for them over 200 times.

Concerns about safety were voiced by parents like Jacqueline Fortin, whose sixth-grader attends Sonoran Science Academy. For Fortin, the prospect of her son not having access to his phone during school is unsettling. “In today’s world, that might be their last link to safety,” she expressed, referencing the alarming number of school shootings since Columbine in 1999.

Former BASIS charter schools head John Hillis shared a different perspective, arguing that cell phones could undermine school safety protocols. “A student texting during an emergency compromises evacuations and responses,” he cautioned, advocating for clear emergency communication through staff devices instead.

Hillis observed that during his tenure, student phone use often disrupted lessons. He noted that most students were engaged with social media rather than utilizing their phones for essential communication. “Educators frequently recount how cell phones detract from learning time,” he added, supporting the need for legislative action.

The debate over cell phone usage in Arizona classrooms continues as stakeholders weigh the implications of both banning and maintaining mobile devices in educational settings.