Parents complain about new smartphone policy

Board of education members in the Birmingham Public Schools received a number of complaints, and a few comments of support, this week during the public comment portion of the board’s meeting on Tuesday, August 25, about the “bell-to-bell” school policy banning smartphones and other wireless devices starting with the new school year.

A new Michigan law banning smartphone use during K-12 instruction times was signed into law in February of this year, although the specific implementation of the ban has been left up to the individual districts.

The law in Michigan was adopted in both the House and Senate after compromises were hammered out by lawmakers. Similar laws have been adopted in 28 states.

One of the complaints from parents at the meeting was that the school board normally does two public readings of a new policy but a parent claimed that this new policy was only read publicly one time, then the board adopt a K-12 policy impacting all students at its July meeting.

The new policy was supported by all school board members except Jennifer Rass who said she thought smartphone use during lunch periods for high school students should be allowed.

Several parents suggested that the board should review the new policy and consider allowing the use of smartphones during lunch periods by students in the high school grades.

National studies, as a few speakers pointed out, have shown that instructional time suffers due to smartphones and other electronic devices being allowed in the classrooms. Some also pointed out that teachers are finding it more difficult to actually provide instruction because of smartphones in class.

Following the public comments portion of the meeting, there was no discussion by the board about the new policy and at no point by the end of the meeting was the topic addressed further.