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### Cellphone Restrictions in Schools Spark Debate on Safety and Communication During Emergencies
Students at Apalachee High School were forced to take cover in their classrooms when gunfire erupted, frantically reaching out to their parents with texts and calls. One heartbreaking message read, “I love you.
I’m sorry I’m not the best daughter.” The school shooting in Georgia, which left four dead and nine others injured, has reignited discussions about cellphone restrictions in schools and their implications during emergencies.
Many schools and lawmakers have pushed to limit phone use to reduce distractions and address mental health concerns. However, critics argue these restrictions sever a crucial line of communication during school shootings or crises.
Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union, expressed concerns: “Parents cannot rely on schools to effectively communicate during emergencies. This issue has occurred repeatedly, and timely information about our children’s safety is critical.”
Although 77% of U.S. schools ban non-academic cellphone use, enforcement is inconsistent. Governors from both political parties support these bans. Arkansas GOP Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders provided grants for phone-secure pouches, while California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom is considering legislation to mandate phone restrictions.
Governor Newsom remarked, “Allowing phones is like bringing TVs into classrooms, disrupting education. I would hate for a school shooting to shift our focus back.”
However, students during the Apalachee shooting used their phones to contact loved ones, highlighting their importance during such emergencies. Junior Julie Sandoval texted her mother, “I love you.
I love you so much. Ma I love you.
I’m sorry I’m not the best daughter.”
Kim Whitman, co-founder of the Phone-Free Schools Movement, argued that phone use during emergencies might endanger students further. “Missing instructions from a teacher because of a phone distraction could be more dangerous.”
Schools like Grand Island Senior High in Nebraska balance safety and communication by mandating phones be kept out of sight. Jeff Gilbertson, former principal, emphasized lockdown training that teaches students to keep phones silenced to avoid revealing their location.
Cellphones have previously been vital during crises. For instance, during the 2022 Uvalde, Texas shooting, a fourth-grader called 911. Similarly, during the 2018 Parkland shooting, students posted videos and texted parents.
Brandi Scire, a parent from Broward County, Florida, was reminded of the importance of cellphones during the Apalachee incident. After her son’s school was locked down during the Parkland shooting, she purchased a phone for her daughter for safety.
Broward County schools now require phones to be stored away, but Scire insists her daughter keeps hers on. “It’s about safety. I cannot let that go.”
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This story has been updated to correct the date of the Uvalde, Texas shooting to 2022.