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By Matthew Impelli
Life & Trends Reporter
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A Texas official has urged the ban of cellphones in schools, citing the devices' "harmful" effects on students.
On Wednesday, Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath spoke at a Senate Education Committee Hearing, calling on lawmakers to take action against the use of cellphones in schools next year.
During his testimony, Morath said that using cellphones in schools has an "extremely harmful" impact on students and their learning process.
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"If it were in my power, I would have already banned them in all schools in the state," Morath said. "So I would encourage you to consider that as a matter of public policy going forward for our students and our teachers."
Morath's remarks touch on a broader debate happening in school systems nationwide, a contentious issue that doesn't always split cleanly along party lines. The commissioner raised the topic of cellphone use while discussing student performance on state and national exams. During the most recent state assessment, only 41 percent of Texas students showed proficiency in math, sparking concerns among lawmakers on Wednesday.
Proponents of universal cellphone bans argue that the devices distract students from learning and negatively impact children's mental health. Opponents of cellphone bans argue that restricting access hinders students from developing personal responsibility and prevents communication with parents during emergencies—a rising concern as mass shootings become more frequent across the United States.
During the 2022 shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, in which a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers, children inside the school used their phones to call the police for help.
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Texas State Senator Jose Menendez appeared open to banning cellphones in schools, saying, "Mental health is becoming a bigger and bigger issue."
"I like what you said about if we could get rid of the cellphones, you know. I mean, it would help all of us if we could do that. But we can't. I mean...how would it look?" Menendez said.
In response, Morath cited some Texas school districts that have already issued bans, saying, "Administratively, this is a very doable thing."
According to Pew Research, 72 percent of high school teachers nationwide report cellphone distractions as a significant issue in their classrooms, compared to 33 percent of middle school teachers and just 6 percent of elementary school educators. So far, seven states have passed laws to ban or limit cellphone use in schools, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
In August, California Governor Gavin Newsom sent letters to school districts urging school officials to limit cellphone use in schools.
This article includes reporting from the Associated Press.
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