OPINION
House Bill 1481 passed the Texas House and Senate by two-thirds majority and was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott on June 20.
The bill states school districts are to adopt policies restricting students from using phones and other electronics during school hours, and the bill requires districts to enforce punishments for those who break the policy.
Tioga ISD discussed the policy at its school board meeting Monday, and Aubrey ISD was set to do so on Friday.
Pilot Point ISD will likely discuss it at their Aug. 13 meeting.
I believe this bill is unenforceable, unsafe and eliminates lessons on personal responsibility for students.
Educators already have a difficult time enforcing no-phone policies.
At my school, students already bring fake phones or refuse to put them away.
Stopping class to enforce the policy takes away class time and is extremely frustrating for the students who followed the rules.
Furthermore, students with an equal access education plan that outline the use of a device are excluded from the district’s policy.
Educators have no way to prevent these students from letting others borrow their device.
Enforcing this policy will create a larger distraction than the phone itself.
Students won’t be able to contact 911 or guardians if there is an emergency on campus.
The bill states students should use the office phone to make a call. However, in an emergency, every moment counts. In the case of a lockdown or an active shooting, students having communication with their guardians is important for both parties to remain calm.
I have been a part of multiple lockdowns due to violence and if I weren’t able to contact my parents, I would’ve felt isolated and even more scared.
Quick contact with people outside of campus is important and going to the office for a phone call is not efficient or often even possible in emergency situations.
Supporters argue the bill will cut out distractions from the classroom.
However, students will not have their phone taken by a college professor or employer once they graduate high school.
I have had coworkers fired due to being on their phone on the clock.
Teenagers need to learn how to self-regulate screen time during their school years, or they will be forced to learn with higher stakes and consequences for poor actions.
HB 1481 is unenforceable, creates concerns for safety and allows students to ignore their bad habits.
Tierney Withrow is a student journalist working with the Post-Signal. She can be reached via Editor & Publisher Abigail Allen at [email protected].
