Lunchtime at Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School in South Burlington, Vermont, is pretty typical. Kids sit at big tables in the cafeteria with trays of pizza and sandwiches. Sounds of chatter and laughter fill the air.
But there’s one thing missing. Cell phones.
At this school, you won’t find students scrolling TikTok or snapping selfies during lunch—or at any other time.
That’s because the school banned phones this past fall. Students must put their devices into a locked box at the start of the day and don’t get them back until dismissal.
And those students aren’t alone. Across the country, a growing number of schools are prohibiting phones. Some states, including Florida and Indiana, have even created statewide bans. More may soon follow.
Why? Many school officials say phones disrupt teaching and learning. However, some parents and students disagree with the bans. They say teens need their phones to stay in touch with their families in case of emergencies. What do you think?
—Anna Starecheski
