Abdul-Hakim Shabazz wrote on LinkedIn:
Indiana schools will soon require student phones to be stored away, powered off, and inaccessible for the entire school day. The goal is simple: restore focus and reduce distraction. But phones today aren’t just distractions. They’re communication tools, safety tools, and social infrastructure. This raises a bigger question: Where does parenting end and policy begin?
I’d value thoughtful perspectives from educators, administrators, and parents.
Full breakdown here: https://indypolitics.org/be-a-parent-but-also-be-honest/
I responded:
Thanks Abdul-Hakim. You wrote:
“…this isn’t really about phones. It’s about whether we expect schools to solve problems that start at home.”
I couldn’t agree more. As a parent, your number one priority is to parent your child. It isn’t to outsource it to other people, devices, shows, books, etc. Of course more than you is involved, but at the end of the day, it’s your responsibility.
To the emergency concern: Since there are carve outs for school sanctioned devices, this objection could easily be overcome with an app on the device that would allow for notification to others in the building of an issue or even the ability to call 911 directly. Easily solvable with technology.
However, and I am sure you saw this, even those school sanctioned devices are a distraction and hindrance to learning and the pursuit of education: “The U.S. spent $30 billion to ditch textbooks for laptops and tablets: The result is the first generation less cognitively capable than their parents“
