Marin County students will face restrictions on cellphone use this school year as educators grapple with how to minimize distractions in the classroom, the Marin Independent Journal reported.
Policies banning or otherwise restricting the use of the devices are becoming more common throughout California. Supporters say excessive use of smartphones is linked to harms like addiction and bullying, but some restrictions have received pushback from families worried about reaching children during school emergencies.
The Journal found that rules vary across Marin County, with many schools mandating students store their phones in backpacks, pouches, lockers or caddies during class. Some schools steer students who need to reach their parents during the school day to request permission to make a call from the school office; students caught using a cellphone during the school day may risk having it confiscated until dismissal…