OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Kevin Stitt has challenged Oklahoma schools to adopt phone-free classroom policies , calling the proliferation of cellphones in schools a “real and worsening problem.”
The Republican governor issued an executive order on Wednesday creating the “Oklahoma Phone-Free Schools Challenge” to encourage schools to limit student cellphone use through cost-neutral strategies. He stopped short of issuing a statewide ban on cellphones in schools and is not requiring districts to participate in the challenge.
Stitt said cellphones and social media have caused a “worrying trend” of distraction, bullying and learning difficulties in schools. His executive order also cites concerns of a negative impact on children’s mental health.
“Those of you in the classroom know the best way to solve this problem, not big government,” the governor said in a pre-recorded video. “Parents, we need to talk to our kids about their screen time and make sure that they’re getting the most out of their school day.”