North Dakota lawmakers debate a bill to limit student cellphone use during class, raising local control concerns among educators and administrators
Jonas pointed out that around 11 states have similar restrictions, with another 10 considering them. He believes this could lead to better behavior and improved academic performance. The bill does include exceptions for students who need their phones for medical reasons or as part of an educational plan.
West Fargo High School Principal Rachel Bachmeier supports the bill, sharing that her school has a policy to keep phones “out of sight, out of use” during class. She noted that the consequences for breaking this rule are usually mild, and the policy has led to less distraction in classrooms.
However, some school leaders voiced concerns. Steve Madler, principal of Bismarck Century High School, mentioned that their current policy allows phones to be out of sight during instruction but acknowledges their usefulness for research and translation. He suggested that the bill should allow for educational use of phones.
KrisAnn Norby-Jahner from the North Dakota School Boards Association argued for local control, saying most districts already manage cellphone use effectively. She proposed that the bill should require districts to create their own policies instead of imposing a blanket ban.
Bachmeier recognized the need for local control but emphasized that if cellphone use is seen as a public health issue, the state has a responsibility to act. She raised the question of what steps should be taken to protect students in this digital age.
