Parents in America Support the Use of Phones in Schools During Emergencies
The mass shooting that occurred on September 4 at Apalachee High School in the state of Georgia, resulting in the deaths of four people and injuries to nine others, has reignited the debate over the pros and cons of students having cell phones on school campuses.
According to a survey conducted by the National Parents Union in the United States, 78% of parents support their children having access to cell phones during school hours in case of emergencies. The survey also found that 62% of parents said their children cannot use cell phones during class but are allowed to use them at certain times outside of class. Additionally, only 30% of parents reported that their children’s schools sought parental input on cell phone policies, while 71% stated that their children’s school cell phone policy is somewhat appropriate.
Keri Rodrigues, President of the National Parents Union, commented on the matter, saying, “It is extremely important to be able to directly communicate with your child to ensure they are safe during emergencies at school,” and pointed out that many schools fail in effective communication. “Cell phone bans, unfortunately, do not take into account the tragic, real-life scenarios that often occur in schools,” Rodrigues said, citing examples of shootings in schools across America. The National Education Association also stated that enforcement of cell phone use should not be left to individual educators and that schools should avoid actions or monitoring that criminalize student behavior.
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