Alabama teacher calls state’s new law banning phones in class ‘magic’
Teacher praises restrictions placed on phone use in classrooms
- An Alabama teacher has praised a new state law banning mobile phones in school classrooms, noting significant improvements in student engagement and academic focus.
- Jonathan Buchwalter, a history teacher, observed that students were taking notes, completing assignments, asking for help, and interacting with each other more effectively.
- This local success reflects a wider trend across the United States, with 33 states having enacted legislation or policies to restrict student mobile phone use in schools.
- The push for these restrictions is driven by concerns over the negative impact of smartphones on students' mental health, academic performance, and attention spans.
- Studies have linked problematic smartphone use to increased depression, anxiety, and insomnia in teenagers, reinforcing the rationale behind these school policies.