Cell Phones & Other Digital Devices Are Not Evil But…

The Curriculum and Policy Committee has approved and sent an amended policy to the full School Board recommending a “no cell phone policy” in grades K-12.  

The first read of the amendment is on May 6, 2025 and the second read and vote will be on May 20, 2025. to the Portland School Board. This policy includes all communication devices, not just cell phones.  Once approved by the School Board we anticipate the policy will go into effect when the new school year begins in September of 2025.

I believe cell phones and other digital devices are not evil but it is clear that cell phones distract from the learning experience.  When there are interruptions in the classroom students miss out. 

We hear complaints about announcements over the intercom and how fire drills totally disrupt the flow of learning in a class but more often than not, it is cell phones that provide a direct barrage of interruptions to a teacher and learner. 

The buzzing phone abruptly changes the focus from learning to wondering who was calling or texting.  Even if the student does not take the phone out there is a break in their concentration. If they do retrieve it, then there is an even greater disruption in the connection between the student and those in the class with them.  The point is learning stops.

Research shows there are statistical correlationa between social media and depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation.  There are arguments about how big the effect of digital media is on these mental health issues. In moderation, television, video games, computers and cell phones can be beneficial to mental health.   Moderate use means one to two hours per day.  After that there is a detrimental effect. (Przybylski & Weinstein, 2017)

The strongest argument I found for limiting cell phones to outside the classroom was the data that looked at adolescents who spent more time on non-screen activities. When the teen is engaged with school activities: the in-person social interaction, sports, exercise, homework and print media they exhibit less incidence of mental health issues. (Twenge, Joiner, Rogers, & Martin, 2018)

The opportunities to engage with digital and social media abound after school. Besides entertainment, cell phones are a tool for connecting with family, friends and work.  

I and my fellow Board members made this recommendation to maximize the benefits a public-school education offers.  

The community spends millions of dollars to make teaching and learning happen. Teachers and staff spend hours paid and unpaid to prepare lessons to impart knowledge and skills that will empower the students in their lives. All of this is for naught if the student is distracted and misses out on the opportunities to learn.  

Helping students develop reasoning skills, acquire knowledge of content and improve interpersonal skills are the priorities of “learning”. 

Cell phones and other communication devices are not evil but they are a major distraction from the “learning” experience of a classroom. Cell phones in the classroom have been around for a period of time now, and we understand their negative impact. It is why I favor a “no cell phone policy” for grades K-12 in all Portland Public Schools.

Przybylski, A. K., & Weinstein, N. (2017). A large-scale test of the goldilocks hypothesis: quantifying the relations between digital-screen use and the mental well-being of adolescents. Psychological science, 28(2), 204-215.

Twenge, J. M., Joiner, T. E., Rogers, M. L., & Martin, G. N. (2017). Increases in Depressive Symptoms, Suicide-Related Outcomes, and Suicide Rates Among U.S. Adolescents After 2010 and Links to Increased New Media Screen Time. Clinical Psychological Science, 6(1), 3-17. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167702617723376 (Original work published 2018)