Unplugging Students From Their Cell Phones During the School Day

COLUMBUS—State Senator Andrew Brenner (R-Delaware), State Senator Jane Timken (R-Jackson Township), and Governor Mike DeWine held a press conference yesterday to discuss her legislation, Senate Bill 158, regulating cell phone use by students in public schools, as well as Braden's law, which goes into effect today.

"We have seen a significant amount of learning loss due to student cell phone use in schools," said Senator Brenner. "Previously, legislation has been necessary to reduce the damaging effects of cell phone use, such as Braden's law. Ohio is taking the lead on this issue and I believe this legislation will move quickly through the Ohio Legislature."

House Bill 531, otherwise known as Braden's Law, passed at the end of the previous General Assembly. The legislation was spearheaded by Senator Brenner and creates the offense of sexual extortion and makes it a third-degree felony.  

"Our children are more connected than ever to technology but not to each other," said Senator Timken. "The average child student in the classroom is getting over 11 notifications an hour - that adds up to almost 192 notifications during their waking hours. That means they're distracted, they're addicted, they are constantly wondering, 'What am I missing? What notification did I miss?' This does not provide for a conducive learning environment and also has a damaging social effect."

"I say, unplug our children so that they can plug themselves into a brighter future and thrive," concluded the Senator.

Governor DeWine introduced a similar plan in his executive budget proposal.

"We need to make sure our classrooms are actually cell phone free," said Governor DeWine. "Constant notifications make it almost impossible for students to focus."

The senators and the governor both called the legislation a common sense approach to unplug children from constant distractions. They said Senate Bill 158 will allow effective instruction and facilitate the building of the interpersonal relationships that are so vital to human development. They also stressed that eliminating cell phone in classrooms will help improve academic performance, reduce the effects of cyber bullying, and give students the tools they will need to have a successful life academically.

Many school districts have already chosen to ban cell phones after the enactment of a law last year requiring them to implement policies to address the use of cell phones in schools. Many of those school district staff members have already noted improvement in student engagement, attendance, grades, socialization, and communication. 

Also attending the press conference were Fran DeWine, First Lady of Ohio, Dr. John Marschhausen, Superintendent, Dublin City School District, and Tina Husted, Former Second Lady of Ohio.

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