Hey Pirates! Some of you may have heard about the proposed “Bell to Bell, No Cell” bill. This bill authored by Rep Chad Caldwell would prohibit the use of phones and personal electronic devices on school campuses across oklahoma. The bill also has an opt out in case any districts choose to not prohibit cell phone use. It has not been passed fully and put into place, but students should still be aware of what it will entail and what they might need to get accustomed to next school year. The bill was proposed in an attempt to help the education numbers in Oklahoma, which is ranked 49th in terms of education. This ranking was decided by test scores, and the amount of students who graduate every year. The House passed the bill on Thursday, February 13th, it passed with 82 ayes and 9 nays. If the bill passes going forward, it would be instated in the 2025-2026 school year.
One of the main reasons that people are pushing for this bill is because many youths are having behavioral problems, which has been reported by teachers all over the country. Not only are our current teachers being overworked and forced to try and manage students who have no respect for people who are only doing their job, but Oklahoma also has a teacher shortage.
Removing cell phones from the equation could not only boost our state’s underperforming test scores, but it would also be beneficial for students as well. Students are sabotaging themselves by disregarding education and opting to use their devices. We are the next generation of workers, teachers, and politicians, and yet people are using their phones instead of focusing on their education.
Some people are concerned about safety, and many parents are worried that they won’t be able to get in contact with their children if the need arises. Concerned parents want to be able to contact their child and their child be able to contact them if the need arises, so this has been a talking point in many discussions regarding the bill.
Currently the bill has not passed, but this information is important for any students of the upcoming school years as well as their parents in case it is put into place in the future.
