(The Center Square) – The top Republican in the Wisconsin Assembly says the current plan to allow local schools to decide cell phone rules for themselves is “weaker” than it should be.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos told News Talk 1130 WISN’s Jay Weber he’d like to see a total ban on cell phones for students while they are in school.
“If it were up to me, we’d do a bell-to-bell ban on the use of cell phones in school,” Vos said. “All the data shows one thing: That less access to technology during part of the day results in better emotional situations for kids, and better learning.”
Vos, however, said there’s not enough will in the rest of the legislature to make that happen.
The Assembly approved a plan in the spring that requires Wisconsin’s school districts to come up with their own cell phone policies. That means some schools may ban phones all together, while other schools could allow students to use their phones during the school day.
“The legislature, at the request of DPI and the governor, passed something that I think is weaker than it should be,” Vos added. “Every school district has to have a policy in place. So at least they debate it and decide what’s best.”
Vos said there’s an overwhelming amount of evidence that shows banning phones for students during the school day helps with grades, with class participation and with social skills.
“All of the evidence points in one direction,” Vos said.
Vos said the goal is to get a law on the books to deal with cell phones in schools, then fight for something stronger in the future.
