NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — Leaders in education and healthcare along with politicians are asking an important question - should your kids be allowed to use their cell phones during the school day?
2 On Your Side called on some local experts for their perspectives.
Last May US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy raised eyebrows and concerns with a report on the impact of social media on the mental health of children. That includes students in schools. The report stated that 95 percent of youth ages 13 to 17 engaged online while others started even younger than that Some students in a survey indicated almost constant use. The report also noted that such usage is tied to an increase in youth depression and anxiety.
Now according to CBS News, the Surgeon General and some members of Congress are calling for a cell phone ban during school hours.
Some educators understand why pointing out that these devices are so addictive.
Grand Island Superintendent Brian Graham seeks to also educate parents about the risks of constant social media exposure. "We receive tremendous amounts of praise that we have such strong rules against using cell phones in school. Besides being strict we're trying to be proactive with parent education programs that promote other strategies and teach parents how to have control over the device."
So Graham says this is the Grand Island District policy for the school day. "Children are not supposed to have their smart devices out in classrooms. They can only use them when they're transitioning from class to class or in the cafeteria during lunchtime. And otherwise, it's shut down."
A spokesman says the Buffalo City School District also requires a cell phone shutdown unless they are needed for instructional purposes. That is even though laptops are provided. Some schools also collect phones when school starts and return them at the end of the school day.
Superintendent Mark Laurrie says the Niagara Falls City District does not permit cell phones for pre-k through eighth-grade students. But it does allow use for secondary students. But Laurrie says he is very much aware of the circumstances. "The mental health issues, the distraction issues, the instant gratification issues. The fact that we've had fights and the first thing that kids will do is take their cell phone out and start videotaping. And while we try to discourage that it happens frequently."
But Laurrie says there are reasons for keeping a cell phone connection for older students with adult responsibilities. "They are the siblings that are providing child care for their brothers or sisters. Often they have jobs that they tell us that they've got to be in touch with. Unfortunately, our buses are sometimes late."
The New York State Education Department says this is strictly a local control issue for school districts but obviously, no cell phones are allowed as students are taking state assessment exams.