Minnewaska Area Schools is seeking parent input regarding student cell phone usage in school. The goal at Minnewaska Area Schools is to set a positive direction with electronic devices and create guidelines for the upcoming school year, it was stated in a letter to parents of MAS students. “We need your input as we develop these guidelines to create a successful path for our students’ academics and well-being,” the letter stated.

After the survey had been out just a few days, there were nearly 500 responses from MAS parents and those responses overwhelmingly supported guidelines that would limit the use of cell phones or other electronic devices in classrooms  because it would improve a student’s academic success.

More than 90% of those surveyed said they “Strongly Agree” with the question:  Will you support guidelines that would prohibit the use of cell phones and other electronic devices during class time?

About 88% of those responding also “Strongly Agree” to the question: Would you support a progressive disciplinary consequence for your child/student if they refused to comply with said guidelines?

About 87% of those responding also agreed that limiting cell phones and other electronic devices during classtime could improve “your student(s) mental health.

During the 2024 Minnesota State Legislative session, legislation was passed stating a school district or charter school must adopt a policy on students’ possession and use of cell phones in school to minimize the impact cell phones have on student behavior, mental health, and academic attainment.

Since the inception of cell phones, they have been the conduit connecting the user to others and social media platforms. And, for our most impressionable users, our school-aged children, we are seeing harmful effects on their behavior, mental health, and learning, the letter stated.

In 2023, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory about the effects of social media use on our youth’s mental health. Within the report, the Surgeon General states, “The most common question parents ask me is, ‘Is social media safe for my kids?’. The answer is that we don’t have enough evidence to say it’s safe, and in fact, there is growing evidence that social media use is associated with harm to young people’s mental health. 

“Children are exposed to harmful content on social media, ranging from violent and sexual content to bullying and harassment. For too many children, social media use compromises their sleep and valuable in-person time with family and friends,” according to the Surgeon General.  “We are in the middle of a national youth mental health crisis, and I am concerned that social media is an important driver of that crisis – one that we must urgently address.”

“The WHY” — Purpose of Cell Phone Guidelines

Improving Academic Performance: Recent research has shown that cell phone use in the classroom is a significant source of distraction. A study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology (2020) found that students who frequently use their cell phones in class tend to have lower academic performance. Similarly, an article in Education and Information Technologies (2022) emphasized that multitasking with cell phones negatively affects information retention and understanding.

Enhancing Mental Health: Excessive cell phone use has been linked to increased anxiety and stress among students. Research from the Behavioral Sciences (2023) indicates that the pressures of constant connectivity and social media can lead to mental health issues. A study in Clinical Psychological Science (2022) also found that students who use cell phones during class are more likely to experience social isolation and depression.

Creating a Better Classroom Environment: Cell phones disrupt the classroom environment, making it challenging for teachers to maintain control and for students to focus on learning. A review in the Journal of Computers in Education (2020) concluded that cell phones lead to increased incidents of cheating and reduced participation in class discussions. Moreover, an article in Education Science (2024) found that cell phone policies can improve the learning environment by promoting more face-to-face interactions among students.

Supporting Effective Teaching: Surveys and studies have shown that both teachers and students recognize the disruptive nature of cell phones in the classroom.  Education Science (2024) revealed widespread support for measures to limit cell phone use and highlighted that teachers feel more empowered and effective when cell phone use is restricted.