By: Finley Missella/ Copy Editor

     The state of Ohio has declared that cell phones, along with some other technology, will not be permitted in the learning environment.

     Officially starting Jan. 1, 2025, the new law has been subject to criticism from a multitude of sources, more specifically students and their parents. Getting rid of phones seems like a quick fix, but it ignores the reality of how students live and learn today.

     The premises in which phones are banned is related to any school activities defined as an “instructional day.”

     “An ‘instructional day’ is any period of time in which a student is expected to be in attendance and includes not only formal instruction time but also supervised activities,” according to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.

   According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 77 percent of the United States has moved to prohibited cell phones as of 2020, and this number has only increased over the years.

     Instead of banning phones directly, schools should provide opportunities to teach students how to manage them. Learning to balance technology is a critical skill in today’s world and this change will remove students’ abilities to  expand their skills using resources they will have when they leave high school.

     “Allowing phones to be accessible can enrich lessons and provide opportunities to use technology for school-related purposes,” “The Harvard Gazette” said.

     Many future occupations depend on the use of technology, so by limiting exposure during school hours, some of that prior experience for jobs is being taken away.

      Even during emergencies, students are not permitted to be on their phones at any point of the day, even when they are technically not at school.

     Phones are not always a bad thing when managed correctly. They can be used as an educational tool to support learning and are often a safety net for emergencies. Changing how phones are used at school can end up being not only beneficial to students’ learning, but improving their safety especially with the increase of school shootings in the United States.

     According to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, “transitioning between classes, recess, meal periods, and field trips,” are all places where phones will not be permitted.

     Phones play an essential role on school field trips by keeping students informed and safe. Technology is especially important when it comes to field trips because it allows students to stay connected in an unfamiliar environment.

     The chances of incidents, like students getting lost, decreases as well because people can call or text their friends to find where they are. 

     This importance extends beyond field trips, highlighting how cell phones benefit students in dire situations.

     According to Campus safety, school shooting incidents since 1996 have increased significantly over the recent few years.

     This greatly affects the banning of cell phones because communication is cut off from safety. Phones allow for students to quickly alert parents, police and other students without wasting time. 

      Phones are a crucial part of everyday life in today’s society; Without them, people are disconnected from the world and lack the means to thrive in civilization.

     While banning phones in schools may seem like the right decision, the end results may not be up to those expectations.