The Salt Lake City School District is revisiting its cell phone policy for students. It’s one of many districts across the nation trying to figure out how to handle the ever-present devices.
After surveying parents, students and teachers on the district’s current cell phone policy, the school board discussed it on April 16. Board member Bryan Jensen, who said he’s heard from a lot of his constituents about this topic, asked the board to take it up.
Earlier this year, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox asked schools “to remove cell phones during class time.” Cox highlighted Delta High School, which requires students to check their phones at the classroom door, and another junior high in the Granite School District that bans phones entirely.
Salt Lake City School District’s current policy is not as strict. Students can bring their phones on campus, but each school within the district sets its own rules for how it can be used. The district’s policy does say cell phones are supposed to be off and put away during class unless a teacher says otherwise.
The district had thousands of responses to its survey, but it didn’t give board members a clear answer of what to do.
Not surprisingly, many of the students who responded were against a phone ban. That idea was more popular with parents, but there were concerns about being able to get in contact with their kids, such as in an emergency, for example.
“I think the most difficult piece of the survey was the disparate voices of parents because I think in order for this policy to be successful, we have to be in collaboration with parents, and parents have different needs,” said Superintendent Elizabeth Grant during the board meeting. “We’re in a tough position. It feels to me at this moment there isn’t a perfect answer.”
Some of the parents and teachers surveyed said they wanted the policy to be enforced more consistently. Some teachers also wanted clearer guidelines
The research…
