Minnesota lawmakers considering cellphone ban at schools
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Lawmakers are considering a ban that would remove cellphones from all schools in Minnesota.
A Senate proposal would ban all phones on school grounds for kids in Kindergarten through eighth grade. It would also ban phones for high school students in the classroom.
"There is mounting evidence that cellphones are taking a toll on student's ability to focus in the classroom and their overall mental health," said Sen. Alice Mann, DFL-Edina.
Mann went around the state holding listening round tables with students.
"We heard stories of kids taking pictures of tests, taking and sending pictures of one another without consent, and sending naked pictures to classmates in group chats," said Mann.
The senator told the Senate Education Committee one exchange really shocked her.
"In one district, when we asked if kids had ever seen a naked picture of a random classmate the majority of the kids that were at the round table shrugged and said 'yea' as if it were not big deal, as our jaws hit the floor," said Mann.
The proposal to ban cellphones has broad support. Mann and Sen. Jordan Rasmusson, R-Fergus Falls, are co-sponsors.
"For me, it's about being able to make sure students are focused on learning, and that we try and mitigate screen overuse and misuse in the classroom," said Rasmusson.
He says parents and teachers are worried about their kids' education.
"We are concerned about declining test scores in the classroom we see across the state we are open to any option to get those test scores up," said Rasmusson.
The proposed ban would have exceptions for children with disabilities and other special circumstances.
If the legislature passes this bill, it would override legislation passed last year that requires all Minnesota school districts to have a cell phone policy in place by this spring.
