Dec. 20, 2023
By Kiara Rasmussen
Staff Writer
Students in Florida are adapting to a new normal following Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signing of a bill that prohibits students from using their phones during instructional time. The law includes an exception whereby students may use their phones if expressly directed to do so by a teacher for educational purposes.
The law, which took effect on July 1, also restricts the use of TikTok on school grounds and blocks the social media platform on its own electronic devices.
Sophomore Noah Melendez said the law is problematic because phones are sometimes necessary.
“If I didn’t have access to my phone, life in school would be way harder for me,” Melendez said. “I need to figure out rides home [and] what I’m going to do after school.”
Nonetheless, Melendez said he recognizes the benefits of the law.
“If there was a limit to the phone usage, I could see maybe grades going up [and] me focusing a little better,” Melendez said.
Like Melendez, sophomore Michael Monahan said he understands the reason for such a law.
“A lot of students lie, say[ing], ‘Oh, I’m texting my mother,’ but they’re actually texting their friends or checking through social media,” Monahan said.
“If there was a limit to the phone usage, I could see maybe grades going up [and] me focusing a little better.”
The new law also requires teachers to instruct students about the influence of social media on human behavior.
A study conducted by Common Sense Media revealed that, of 85 students under the age of 13, 68% use at least one app rated “teen” or higher, and 45% use apps with mature (17+) or adult (18+) ratings.
Monahan said children can find themselves in dangerous situations when using their phones improperly.
“There [are] a lot of trends [on] social media that have caused little kids, especially in elementary or middle school, to do really immature stuff,” Monahan said.
English teacher Mrs. Paluzzi said she established a rule at the beginning of the school year that requires students to place their phones into a phone caddy at the start of her class.
“The vast majority of students follow this policy without even needing a reminder,” Paluzzi said. “A contract is sent home at the beginning of the school year making parents [and] guardians aware of the policy.”
While Paluzzi generally agrees with Florida’s law, she said blocking social networks can be counterproductive.
“Various clubs [and] activities use social media often to post updates, pictures of events, upcoming meetings or pressing reminders. Blocking this might prevent some of those messages from coming out in a timely manner or possibly cause someone to miss an important message [or] reminder,” Paluzzi said.
Business and technology teacher Mr. Gorman said at the start of this school year, he began prohibiting phones in his classroom. He said as a result of the rule, students are paying more attention in his class and have better participation.
“They don’t like it, but [it is] good for them, so that’s why I have to implement a cell phone rule or ban in my classroom,” Gorman said.
He said he wishes New Jersey would adopt Florida’s law so students would socialize more with each other instead of focusing on their screens.
“It would make the classroom atmosphere a more positive place,” said Gorman.
