The Michigan House has approved legislation to get cellphones out of the classroom.
State Representative Mark Tisdel of Rochester Hills introduced the bill that will prohibit public school students from using smartphones during instruction time. He tells us he first introduced the plan in 2023 without much support. The views have since changed.
“The initial response was, well, you can’t take smartphones away from kids in school,” Tisdel said. “Now, two and a half years later, 38 states, other states have introduced statewide standards.”
If the legislation becomes law, Tisdel says schools can choose how to enforce it. He says one school in Traverse City, which already has such a ban, keeps special holders for phones at the front of the classroom. Kids have to put their phones in it as they enter.
Tisdel says as he listened to research about the effects of mobile technology on young people, he was convinced it impedes learning when in the classroom.
“More than anything, it’s a tremendous distraction. And even having it in your possession but turned off or in your proximity and turned off is a distraction because they’re wondering what they’re missing.”
Tisdel says social media is harming the mental health of students. His bill seeks to let kids be kids.
“All of that drama, the fights, the disciplinary referrals, the counseling referrals. Avondale Middle School in Auburn Hills, after one year of a bell-to-bell prohibition on phones at their middle school, assaults against teachers went down 100%.”
The legislation still allow students to use their devices during non-instruction time between classes and during lunch so they can coordinate after-school activities. It also has exemptions for emergencies and medical reasons. “Dumb,” old-style flip phones are still allowed.
The bill passed the House this week on a vote of 99 to 10, and Tisdel believes it’ll pass the Senate. Governor Gretchen Whitmer has called for a law like this.
Photo: Representative Mark Tisdel.
