State imposes ban on students’ personal telecommunication devices

The governor has signed a bill pertaining to the unauthorized possession of electronic telecommunication devices at school during an instructional day, which is currently in effect.

It passed the Senate 39-0 in the final vote and the House 84-13-8. School districts can set the policy for non-compliance; state law does not prescribe the punishment.

“It is our intention to follow the new law to the greatest extent possible, but also follow the Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) policy already in place at Bossier schools,” said a news release from the Bossier Parish School Board. “During instructional time, students will be encouraged to have their cell phone turned off and stowed unless the lesson calls for the BYOT policy to be implemented. It is our district’s intention to manage the cell phone law in a positive manner by using it to the advantage of our teachers and students to encourage a productive learning environment, which is how we hope the law was intended.”

Sen. Beth Mizell, the bill’s author, said typically, one teacher is a hardliner, and an overall law takes the burden off those individuals.

“They are an issue, but also a blessing,” said Don Little, Caddo School Board member who chairs the discipline review committee. He said this group offered “well-reasoned advice” and was “close to the source.” It is comprised of administrators, teachers, principals, counselors, parents and bus drivers who put together recommendations when there is a policy change. At its meeting, the board attorney was present to help come up with revisions to the existing policy. Little said the challenge was defining devices — iPads, laptops and optical devices. They are now included.

After school dismisses, Little said students can still keep up with a work schedule or the need to pick up a younger sibling.

The board voted unanimously Tuesday after a lengthy discussion that devices must be turned off and stowed the entire day. The phone can only be retrieved once a parent returns to get it rather than a three-day limit. Parents will receive a written guideline of the consequences, which can include suspension for several infractions.

Byrd High School had a meeting on July 15 to explain its policy, going over several topics. Principal Jerry Badgley said the device can be in a backpack if turned off, but not a pocket or purse. This must be from the start to finish of the school day, even lunch. Only he can authorize the student permission to use the device, not the teacher. He said Byrd staff will not deliver messages. In an emergency, parents need to check their students out. For instance, they should not receive death notice messages in the classroom. Even KBYRD, the broadcasting crew, has been told to buy a camera so that no phone exceptions are in place.

Badgley believes first-year students will have an advantage in abiding by the rule since they come from middle school, where phones are less prevalent. He suggests having your child start putting down their phones to get used to it.

“This is all about educating kids,” he said. “It’s not that we are out to get you in trouble.”

Little and Badgley said sometimes, during lunch, students plan things that could be disciplinary problems, and word gets out that everyone with a phone gets ready to start filming. They also set up vaping groups on phones, Mizell said.

The provisions do not apply to a student whose Individualized Education Program or Individualized Health Plan requires the student’s use of an electronic telecommunication device.

An advocate from the Louisiana Families with Children of Disabilities testified against the bill, saying some schools are not appropriately funded and use text-to-speech for IEPs. Her concern was over children with asthma, allergies and epilepsy who may not be able to speak but could use the phone to call 911. Or if the teacher was shot, leaving only students to be able to seek help from law enforcement.

Michael Faulk, executive director of the School Superintendents Association, said some superintendents have already implemented this. He said they held parent meetings and took the bold step, adding that “it has helped the atmosphere at the school.” He said that instruction time can now be quality time at those schools.

Mizell said student focus is entirely different away from phones. “We have a policy, but it is an unenforceable wish to put the phones away,” she said.

Mizell brought the bill after a conference with Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist, as a speaker. He said phones are damaging the young generation by consuming too much time on them. “I see it as we are giving our students something,” Mizell said. She received letters of support from students who felt a burden was lifted, adding that kids can now have conversations because they are not looking at screens.

She said she has yet to hear a lot of outreach from parents. Rep. Larry Bagley said the same. The former coach said the bill is a good idea, although sometimes he texts his grandchildren if it is urgent. Parents want to have an avenue to reach their children and vice versa. “Teachers can still have theirs to have a way to get in touch when needed,” he said. Mizell said in the event of an active shooter, students should focus on hiding and staying quiet.

Haidt said phones are addictive devices, according to Mizell. “When it dings, it doesn’t matter what the teacher is saying.” The Pew Research Center said 72% of high school teachers say cell phones are a major problem with disruption.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education supported the bill, as did the Louisiana Federation of Teachers.

Rep. Tammy Phelps thinks the bill is great and should be welcomed. “This puts the emphasis on education and will benefit us down the line,” she said. Phelps once served on the Caddo School Board and said the original policy became lenient.

Rep. Dennis Bamburg, a former Bossier School Board member, said mobile devices cause many problems and view them as negative. “I agree it is probably not a good thing in our system. I don’t think it brings goodwill.” Sen. Adam Bass, who also served on the Bossier School Board, did not return a phone call.

Teacher Glynis Johnston said this is a complicated topic. “There are so many variables to consider that are not all for one.

“As a teacher, I aim to foster creativity in the classroom using tools like video editing, cameras and fun learning apps that meet an individual child’s needs, allowing students to engage more with certain topics through their phones, I believe.”

She said phones should be allowed in middle and high schools as they help students document memories and build relationships, enhancing school life.

Johnston said developing digital literacy and responsible digital citizenship should be part of the school curriculum. She said students learn from many other tools and devices, not just their teacher. “If I thought otherwise, I wouldn’t be a good teacher,” she said.

Badgley said he would not put up with tugs-of-war over relinquishment —nothing combative or disrespectful to a teacher.

Mizell said there are bags where the phones can be stored. YONDR Pouch has a magnetic unlocking base. Another possibility is a shoe bag with a numbering system. Little was said that this could cause a liability concern if a phone turns up missing from the bag.

Little said that if geocaching was used, a teacher would not be able to use her phone. He added that students also bring burner phones to give the appearance of compliance.