Recently, the Senate Education committee took a significant step by voting in favor of a bill that could potentially revolutionize the way public schools handle students’ smartphones during school hours. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster), aims to address the alarming decline in student mental health and academic performance, which has been linked to the pervasive use of smartphones and social media.
According to Aument, the issue at hand is critical and requires immediate action. “I can’t think of another issue I’ve worked on in the 14 years that I’ve been here that has resonated quite like this has,” Aument expressed. “I just think it’s absolutely critical that we take steps to free our kids from these devices, from the addiction to these devices, from the addiction to social media, during the school day.”
The bill, which was approved by the committee on June 25, proposes a two-year test program that public schools can choose to participate in voluntarily. Students in these schools would be required to store their phones in special lockable pouches that can only be accessed by a teacher or administrator.
Participating schools would be obligated to monitor instances of bullying, violence, and academic performance throughout the program and report the data to the state’s school safety and security committee. While the bill does not specify a budget for the lockable pouches, the state is expected to allocate funds for their purchase.
However, Sen. Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny) raised concerns about the bill potentially favoring a specific company, referencing NBC’s report on Yondr, a company that has profited from selling lock bags to state governments. Despite these reservations, the majority of the committee members voted in favor of the bill.
Sen. Tim Kearney (D-Delaware) acknowledged the bill’s shortcomings in being overly prescriptive but emphasized his support for the initiative. Aument, the bill’s sponsor, clarified that while he does not intend to promote a particular vendor, the lock bags presented the most effective solution he was aware of to address the issue.
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