Most teachers want cellphone bans, survey finds

Diana Lambert

Teachers overwhelmingly support restricting the student use of cellphones in the classroom, according to a survey by the Association of American Educators released earlier this month.

The association (AAE) surveyed 1,517 teachers across the country and found that 70% ranked cellphone use as one of their top five concerns. It ranked second behind academic achievement. More than half of the teachers surveyed said cellphones are a distraction from learning, while 26% cited mental health concerns for their support of bans.

“Educators and parents recognize the vital importance of a healthy learning environment free from unnecessary distractions,” said AAE Executive Director Colin Sharkey. “Locally developed policies that greatly restrict cellphone use throughout the school day appear to be broadly popular among educators, including those with school-aged children.”

A majority of teachers, 70%, want cellphones to be banned during the entire school day, while 26% support classroom bans. Less than 2% opposed cellphone restrictions.

Read the full article here: https://edsource.org/updates/most-teachers-want-cell-phone-bans-survey-finds