NOTHVILLE, Mich. – Should cell phones be allowed in the classroom? One Metro Detroit school district has decided they shouldn’t and is banning smartphones entirely.
Northville Public Schools first noticed elementary students were distracted by their smartwatches. While the tech enables parents to communicate with their kids, teachers have a hard time keeping them focused in the classroom. For middle school students, the distraction was often social media.
Superintendent Dr. RJ Webber said they’re trying to keep their students safe from platforms that are intentionally designed to exploit dopamine responses through repetitive engagement.
That’s why Norville Public Schools made changes for the 2024-25 school year. The new policy requires K-8 students to turn off their cell phones and smartwatches and store them in their cubby or locker.
“My hope for this policy is it’s an awakening, frankly, in our own country and world, that schools cannot be the only place that can police or impact aspects of things like cell phones and social media,” Webber said.
The new cell phone policy will impact about 4,000 students who attend elementary or middle schools in Northville. It doesn’t currently apply to high school students.
In the event of an emergency, Webber said there are still ways for parents to contact their children and that the district’s security protocols will keep students safe.
You can read the new Personal Electronic Device policy here.