One Month of “No Cell, Bell to Bell” In Arkansas, and the Results Are In

Governor Sanders and Arkansas Legislators passed a law, which seemed to be controversial at first, banning cell phones, smart watches and personal electronics from public school classrooms. Some schools only implemented the very minimum requirements of the law banning cell phones from the first bell to the last bell of the school day, while other schools increased the ban to include any time on school grounds, including extracurricular activities. The opinions on this have been loud and far-reaching on social media, so let’s look at what teachers, parents and students are saying.

All you have to do is watch videos on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok to hear the opinions of teachers and school staff of how the first month has been without cell phones in the classroom. Originally, teachers were fearful that students would fight the policy and become defiant when they were caught with their cell phones, but for the most part, students are adhering to the rules and teachers are extremely pleased. No, they are more than pleased, they are shocked. Teachers and staff are posting at how smart, thoughtful and obedient their students became without cell phones glued to their hands all day long. Teachers are stating that students are finally participating in class discussions, doing their homework during free-time and actually listening to the teacher. Many teachers are posting how neat and orderly students are leaving their classes and showing almost instant improvement in reading and writing abilities. Amazingly, they see less fighting and bullying.

Parents are commenting just as much on social media, but the opinions are mixed. The majority of parents, myself included, were originally worried about losing that “peace of mind” knowing they could contact their child anytime, anywhere, and the child could do the same. The majority of parents have commented about one issue, SAFETY. They question about the ability of their child to quickly call them if there is an emergency or even contact emergency services. What if a teacher or other student does something inappropriate to them? Who is monitoring the hallways and school grounds now that students aren’t constantly recording fights, inappropriate interactions or teachers going off script? What about the school shootings that are occurring more and more frequently? Lastly, how are classrooms being monitored?

“If safety is not addressed, many parents just aren’t going to make their child follow the new law”

Some parents have mentioned that they will not require their child to follow the new policy, and even proudly  “take the punishment” their child recieves if he or she is caught with a cell phone. I have personally talked with parents who openly told me that they require their child to keep their phone on their person at all times, but on silent, just in case something does happen, but if and only if safety is a concern. Safety is still the main problem schools have not fully addressed. For example, many schools do not have metal detectors, allowing students or staff to hide firearms or knives on their person when entering the school. Many larger schools do not have gated and locked perimeters where doors are unlocked during the day for students to enter and exit classrooms. If safety is not addressed, many parents just aren’t going to make their child follow the new law.

Other parents, though, are excited that their child will not be on cell phones at school, since they recognize how distracted and unengaged their child has become with constant use of cell phones.

As a parent of a high school student, I am pleased cell phones are not allowed anymore. I see the effects of phone addiction firsthand and what it does to concentration, listening and overall mental health. I watch hundreds of kids exit the school at 3:15 and the first thing they do is turn on their phones and get on social media. Addiction is real. But, like most parents, I also worry about what would happen if there was a school emergency, because the fact is, when we went to school without phones or electronics, schools were much safer. Just recently, Cabot Public School had a bomb threat and my mind instantly went to all the dark places, but then common sense took over. If I didn’t trust the school, especially the teachers, to protect my child, then why did I allow him to go there in the first place? While I wished I could have comforted him during the lock-down, since he has been mostly homeschooled and never feared about those types of things happening, I also knew the school was doing their best at keeping parents in-the-loop with constant messages and calls. It was at that point, I had to put my trust in God for our son’s overall protection, and also in the school, that they would do anything necessary to keep my son and other students safe.

But what do the students have to say, since it is their phones that are being banned? As I combed through social media, I found many students have disregarded the policy and keep their phones on silent, but are very careful to not let the teachers see them. Some students are still making video recordings during school hours, but at a fraction of what used to be happening. The majority of students have just followed the rules, and actually forget they have a phone in their bags. Personally, I keep tabs on my son’s phone and make sure that he has turned it off during the day. We made it clear to him that it was his choice to attend public school (Arkansas now has the Educational Freedom Accounts to allow all parents choose homeschool, micro schools and private schools as alternative places to educate), so he has to abide by their policies. If there is a policy he doesn’t like, that is not an actual law mandated by the state, there are democratic ways to change it or at least bring those topics up to the school board, which now has to allow all public comment. And if it happens one day that he turns his phone on and is caught, he will not only get the punishment the school gives him, he will lose his phone privileges all together.

Overall, the law “No Cell, Bell to Bell” has been positively recieved and already shown positive results in the classroom, but we want to hear what you think. Are you against the law or for it.

Comment below and let us know!

Missy Bosch

Missy is the author of “Crushed, but Not Broken”, a story detailing her daughter’s diagnosis and her family’s fight with CNS HLH. She has a passion to improve education and help children with disabilities receive the education and respect they deserve. Missy and her husband are AF veterans and have 4 children.