The Rise of Cellphone Bans in Oklahoma Schools: A Path to Academic Success?
The Cellphone Conundrum: A Threat to Academic Success?
Oklahoma City - More than a decade ago, Warner Public Schools in southeast Oklahoma took the bold step of banning cellphones during school hours. This decision has had a profound impact on the district's academic success, earning it consistently high grades on annual state report cards. As a result, the trend is spreading across the state, with several districts imposing stricter cellphone policies or outright bans.
The Case for Cellphone Bans: A Path to Success?
Superintendent David Vinson attributes the district's academic success to the zero-tolerance policy on cellphones. He believes that removing distractions from the classroom has led to a decrease in bullying and discipline issues, while also encouraging students to build camaraderie face-to-face.
"I think if you ask our teaching staff - and I'm confident in saying this because they say it all the time to me - they feel like our cellphone policy is a huge and vital part of what makes us successful," Vinson said.
This sentiment is echoed by other districts across Oklahoma, including Tulsa Public Schools, which has doubled down on its existing policy. The district now prohibits elementary and middle school students from using cellphones, smartwatches, or headphones for the entire school day, while high school students must turn off and put away these devices during class time.
A National Trend: Cellphone Bans Across the US
The trend is not unique to Oklahoma. According to a report by the National Center for Education Statistics, about 76% of all U.S. public schools prohibit non-academic cellphone use, with 43% of high schools implementing this policy.
Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Ebony Johnson believes that removing distractions from the classroom will help students focus on learning. "We needed to ensure that our students and families know that we're going to remove every distraction that we can remove so that they can be fully focused on academics," she said.
The Importance of Top-to-Bottom Support
The key to maintaining a cellphone ban lies in having top-to-bottom support, according to Vinson. Teachers, principals, district administrators, and the school board must all back the policy and ensure its consistent enforcement.
"You have to have board support," Vinson said. "If your policy dies at board support, you're done."
Discipline for Violations: A Varying Approach
The punishment for breaking the rule varies by district. In Warner, students caught with a phone have their device confiscated for a calendar week or can opt for a three-day out-of-school suspension. A second offense comes with a two-week confiscation or a five-day out-of-school suspension.
In contrast, Tulsa's policy doesn't involve confiscating phones, with teachers giving warnings to put phones away and calling home to notify the child's family if they don't comply.
Enforcing a Cellphone Ban: Challenges Ahead
While enforcing a cellphone ban might be harder in large schools due to the sheer number of students to keep track of, Vinson believes that it's still worth trying - each school in its own unique way.
"I think to be successful educationally you have to find a way to remove the cellphones from your educational environment," he said.
As Oklahoma schools continue to follow the lead of Warner Public Schools, one thing is clear: the debate over cellphone bans in public schools has only just begun.