Speaking to the General Assembly for his annual State of the State address, DeWine asked lawmakers to pass legislation to block the pocket-sized fonts of bottomless distraction from students’ hands during school hours.
At the same speech nearly a year ago, DeWine made the same ask of lawmakers. Instead, they unanimously passed a watered-down version of the idea that required schools to develop a phone policy to “emphasize” that phone use be “as limited as possible” during school hours and “reduce” phone distractions in school settings.
Since then, he said, schools that have taken stricter approaches have seen students’ attentiveness improve, along with their communication skills with both teachers and their peers. He called on lawmakers to finish the job, painting a picture of students socializing instead of scrolling during lunch.
“These kids are actually talking to each other instead of having their heads buried in their phones,” he said.
According to a state survey of schools released late last year, more than 40 percent of responding schools reported policies that disallow cell phone use during standard school hours. Another 45 percent reported specific times of approved cell phone use. Other districts reported implementing policies that vary by grade.
DeWine’s remarks drew a standing ovation from the General Assembly.
The budget the governor proposed to lawmakers includes language requiring all public schools to prohibit phone use during the instructional day. The House and Senate haven’t yet introduced their own versions of the budget bill.
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