PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Pennsylvania House has passed a bill that would require school districts to restrict student access to cellphones, not just during class time, but from the opening bell to the end of the school day.
Republican State Rep. Russ Diamond said phones have no place in formal education settings. He quipped that he watched many of his colleagues be more focused on their phones than on the floor proceedings.
“If we as adults can't pay attention here, how do we expect children to be paying attention in school?” he asked.
Opposition to the bill included concerns that decision-making is being taken away from school boards and that children won’t have access during emergencies.
Democratic State Rep. Nikki Rivera, who taught for 30 years and was on a school board, said she was initially opposed, but some exceptions, like allowing certain lesson plans or IEPs, tilted her vote to yes.
“Given the evolution of this bill, I think I will be a yes vote on this, and I do look forward to more of us contributing to what the actual causes are for the cellphone abuse versus what the school rules should be.”
The bill passed the Pennsylvania House 126-to-75 with bipartisan support and opposition. It now heads to the State Senate, where a similar bill passed earlier this year, 46-to-1.
“So the kids can learn and play, and talk, and laugh, negotiate conflict, make eye contact, be curious, be kids again, free from the most addictive and harmful device that humanity has ever been subjected to,” said prime bill sponsor Allegheny County Democrat Mandy Steele.
It's called a "bell-to-bell" ban
It's called a "bell-to-bell" ban
