As schools in Michigan navigate the challenges of modern education, cell phone use in classrooms has emerged as a contentious issue. State Representative Mark Tisdel (R-Rochester Hills) is spearheading efforts to revisit legislation that would limit student cell phone usage, a move that stalled in the state House’s education committee prior to the November election.
Tisdel is optimistic about the bill’s prospects this year, attributing this to Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s newfound support for regulating cell phone use in educational settings. “A change recently is that Governor Whitmer now sees this as a priority. And I’m absolutely thrilled about that,” Tisdel remarked, highlighting the collaboration with the governor as a positive development.
Governor Whitmer’s office, through press secretary Stacey LaRouche, has expressed a commitment to bipartisan legislation aimed at reducing the harmful effects of excessive cell phone use among students. LaRouche emphasized concerns over the impact of social media on mental health and academic performance, stating, “With increased access to smartphones, students are spending more time on social media, which can have detrimental effects to their mental health and educational outcomes.”
A recent survey by the National Education Association supports these concerns, revealing that 91% of educators view student mental health as a critical issue, and 75% cite social media as a significant problem in schools. Furthermore, 90% of educators favor policies that restrict phone use during instructional time.
The previously proposed legislation by Tisdel sought to ban cell phones for students in kindergarten through fifth grade, while allowing limited use for those in sixth through eighth grades. High school policies would be determined by local school boards. Tisdel intends to maintain these provisions in the new legislative proposal.
Several Michigan schools have already taken independent steps to control cell phone use, implementing bans or restrictions as part of their policies.
Diminished Attention and Mental Health Concerns
Educational experts such as Liz Kolb from the University of Michigan highlight the distractions posed by screens in classrooms. Kolb pointed out, “We know from research that even having a device right in front of the student or near the student — even if you’re not using it — can be distracting enough that they’re not retaining and recalling as much information from the class lecture or the class activities as they would without the screens.”
Similarly, Liz Boltz from Michigan State University underscores the broader issue of screen time regulation, noting, “So attention and focus and device use is just — it’s a really big issue, not just for children but also for adults.”
Thomas Morgan of the Michigan Education Association advocates for locally-driven policies, stating, “We believe that allowing students to access social media and other apps on their cell phones while they’re at school really harms their mental health, interrupts their learning time, and it can stunt their social development.”
Debate Over Cell Phone Restrictions
Despite support for restrictions, there are concerns about the potential negative impact on students with limited access to technology. Liz Kolb highlights that for some students, a smartphone is their sole access to technology for educational purposes.
Safety concerns are also part of the conversation. Tisdel acknowledges parental desires for immediate contact during emergencies but argues that student attention should remain with trained adults during such situations to avoid hindering emergency responses.
