Ohio educators, DeWine discuss cell phone usage among students

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted hosted a roundtable discussion to talk about cell phone use in the state’s schools, meeting with educators from all over the state to get their opinion on the topic and find out what’s working and what isn’t working. 

All of the districts in attendance at Wednesday’s event said having some sort of cell phone ban seems to be working. It’s all about making sure the students get the best education possible. 

“They can be good, but they can also cause great harm,” Husted said. 

According to a recent study by Common Sense Media, 97% of 11 to 17-year-olds used their phones during the school day. The amount of daily in-school screen time ranged from less than a minute to 6 and a half hours. Students picked up their phones a median of 51 times per day. 

Educators from across the state the discussion to talk about the pros and cons when it comes to banning cell phone use in schools.

“We know the facts are that it improves academic performance, reduces cyberbullying, improves social skills and makes their lives better,” Husted said.

For most of the districts, students are allowed to have it on their person or in a bag, but they cannot pull it out during the school day. 

“Human contact is a need for all of us, no matter your age,” Dublin City School Board member Diana Rigby said. “These children have been through something that we could never even imagine that they would experience.”

This past year- Dublin City Schools implemented a ban for middle school students. Rigby said that it was so well received, high school teachers are asking her when this will be a rule for older students. 

“Our students are happier without that cell phone,” Rigby said. “They may not know it now. It’s our job to show them that we can get back to a point where the classrooms are conducive to learning, students are engaged, the lunchrooms are active, the playgrounds are active.”

Jessica Whipkey, who has a child attending Worthington City Schools, said she doesn’t think phone use affects a student’s learning, but does think it affects their focus.

“I don’t think that kids should be banned from their phones, but I do think that they should be put away during school hours,” she said.

DeWine said there are two major areas of concern when it comes to using cellphones in class. The first is mental health, and the second is the teaching environment. 

“Schools should be a sanctuary where you learn, but having phones in schools, what does that do to disrupt that?” DeWine said.

He is encouraging every school in Ohio to look at a policy that would either limit or eliminate cell phone use in schools.