Smith supportive of school cell phone ban, believes conducive to learning

Today, the House Committee on Education passed Senate Bill 78. Under SB 78, Indiana’s school cell phone ban would prohibit the use of a cell phone, smartwatch or another wireless device for the entire school day. There are exceptions for emergencies, students with disabilities and multilingual learners who need translation tools. Under current law, cell phones are only banned during instructional time. 

“I fully support this bill that seeks to help our students,” Smith said. “The state of Indiana has a duty to provide its children with the best education possible. We have a duty to ensure our teachers can do their jobs successfully. Wireless devices are a significant hindrance to both.” 

Rep. Smith was one of the first state legislators to strive to manage the use of devices for K-12 students. In 1994, Smith passed House Enrolled Act 1202, which prohibited the use of pagers and handheld telephones during school hours. The bill was repealed in 1995, as part of a rewrite of Indiana’s school discipline statutes.

“I saw how disruptive devices were during my time as a principal,” Smith said. “Students weren’t paying attention in class. They weren’t interacting as much during lunch or passing periods. That’s why I first tried to manage this issue in 1994. Since then, the problems snowballed with smartphones and social media.

“Around 72% of U.S. teachers say cell phones are a major problem. By prohibiting devices, we encourage students to focus more on their studies, listen to their teachers and interact with their peers. Studies show that Florida’s all-day cell phone ban significantly improved test scores and reduced the number of unexcused absences. 

“This is also about more than academics. Social media use is linked to an increase in anxiety, depression and cyberbullying. I hope students learn to set boundaries on their social media use, so they can live their lives fully, not through a screen. 

“We can all benefit from less time on our phones, especially our children, whose young minds are still forming.”