The Prince George’s County Council is actively considering a ban on cell phone usage during school hours, a policy that has remained unchanged since the 1990s.
Leading this initiative is Councilwoman Wanika Fisher. She expressed her hopes for the bill to gain approval from the full council and urged the county school board and superintendent to take action on this long-overdue policy update. “It’s time to prioritize our children’s well-being by ensuring that cell phones are kept out of the classroom,” Fisher stated.
Support for the proposed legislation comes from local parents like Tanya Scott-Thomas and her husband Eric, who have chosen not to allow their 12-year-old twin sons to bring phones to school. “We fully support this initiative. It’s a better environment for our kids, and if this policy is implemented across all schools, we would be in favor of it,” Eric Thomas noted.
Fisher has highlighted concerns regarding the negative impact of cell phones on students, including issues related to bullying, distractions, and mental health. “The well-being of our children in Prince George’s is paramount. There’s substantial research indicating that cell phone use can disrupt learning and exacerbate mental health challenges, which is why I advocate for their prohibition in schools,” she explained.
Additionally, other counties in Maryland, such as Howard, Baltimore, and Anne Arundel, are also contemplating similar restrictions on cell phone usage in educational settings.
The proposed legislation to ban cell phones in Prince George’s County schools is set to go before the full council for a decisive vote in the coming weeks.
