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By: Juniper Daffer, Buzz Staffwriter
SAU education majors and staff are among other students who are reacting with skeptical approval about the new cell phone ban in Iowa’s K-12 schools.
Last April Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill mandating elementary level through high school to implement phone ban policies. In a press release on the Official State of Iowa website the bill is described: “HF 782 prohibits cell phones during instructional time and includes common-sense exceptions to accommodate students with disabilities, English language learners, and those with individual education plans.”
News of the ban has not yet gone viral, so most SAU students and some staff hadn’t even heard of the bill. SAU junior and elementary education major Sarah Feller says, “I have mixed feelings, especially as being a future educator. I do think it’s a good idea with the aspect of focus and attention. A lot of students get really distracted… But then also, with the recent uptick of school shootings and stuff, I kind of want that cell phone in the classroom for students to be able to contact their family.”
Similarly, senior elementary education major Lizzie Olsen adds, “I don’t think completely taking away their phones is going to help that much, because I think students are determined.
They’re going to find different ways to be distracted. Also, the safety concern of being able to reach somebody would probably be the biggest setback, I would assume.”
Junior in forensic psychology and criminal justice Maisey Behrens agrees. “I feel like when you tell kids to do something, they always want to do the opposite, and it makes them kind of more mad. So it could be effective, but also it could definitely backfire as a lot of kids do.”
For other SAU students, however, the ban is an important measure to eliminate distractions in class despite the difficulties that come with enforcement. Accounting management senior Matthew Ardaugh adds, “I’m kind of in favor of it. I think it lets kids focus on their education a little bit more.”
On the topic of enforcing the ban, a barista in the Beehive, Angela Rebella, says, “I think it’s way too hard to regulate, and I think too many parents will disagree with not allowing to have the kids have access to their phone.
“If it works, the kids would learn so much more, they’d be focused, and they would know what’s going on. But again, I think it’s too hard to regulate.”
