Banning Cell Phones in Texas

person holding silver iPhone 6 with black case

Texas education commissioner urges lawmakers to ban cellphones in K-12 schools

Cellphones are “extremely harmful” to student learning and mental health, Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath said Sept. 18. Morath encouraged state lawmakers to prohibit students from using cellphones in all Texas public schools.

“If it were in my power, I would’ve already banned them in schools in the state,” Morath said during a Senate Education Committee hearing. “So I would encourage you to consider that as a matter of public policy going forward for our students and our teachers.”

School districts across Texas have recently tightened their electronic device policies, with some requiring students keep cellphones, smart watches and headphones turned off and out of sight while on campus.

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