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Law restricting device usage won’t have a big impact in MCCSC classrooms

business, technology and people concept - close up of businesswoman hands with smartphone

MCCSC does restrict access to certain websites on their Wi-Fi to mitigate the negative effects of social media and minimize distractions in the classroom. (Syda Productions/Adobe Stock)

The board president of the Monroe County Community School Corporation says a new state law that restricts the use of wireless communication devices in schools won’t have much of an impact in the district’s classrooms.

Board President April Hennessey said the corporation already has a policy in place to restrict device usage. Wireless communication devices must be turned off and put away unless needed for educational purposes, emergencies or to manage health care.

“It was almost already in line with what was needed but the policy was revised to include some of the things from that bill, (such as) definitions of what a wireless communication device were, and instructional spaces and what instructional time meant,” she said.

Read more: Dozens of new Indiana laws passed in 2024 take effect July 1

The new law defines wireless communication devices as “any portable wireless device that has the capability to provide voice, messaging, or other data communication between two or more parties, including a cellular telephone, tablet computer, laptop computer, or gaming device.”

MCCSC Board President April Hennessey said MCCSC adjusted their policy to add in more specific details from the new law. (Zoom screenshot)

Hennessey said even though she is concerned about increased phone usage for middle school and high school students, only so much can be done to regulate how students use their devices.

“The state in a lot of ways overreaches at times with their policymaking and I think that we've seen that in a lot of areas,” she said. “But I understand the desire to try to implement something when you begin to see that there's a widespread problem.”

MCCSC does restrict access to certain websites on their Wi-Fi to mitigate the negative effects of social media and minimize distractions in the classroom, Hennessey said. Recently, the corporation also agreed to be a part of a social media lawsuit that is accusing social media companies of harming young children.

Read more: National you social media lawsuit gains traction in Indiana

“Personally, having been a classroom teacher in the district, I definitely saw the disruption that phones could be in classrooms,” she said. “It's really hard at times for kids to self-regulate, and to monitor themselves and their cell phone usage in the classroom, or even their computer usage in the classroom. I can't tell you how many times we would be doing a lesson and we would be on a specific task, and I would walk behind a kid and they're playing a game.”

While this new law is a step in the right direction in controlling phone usage, Hennessey said it will still be challenging to enforce this policy.

“It's always a fine line to walk between over-usage and being inflexible and taking it away altogether,” she said. “It's always going to be a balancing act and I think it's just reflective of the current moment and the digital age that we live in. I don't think we're going to get away from it any time soon.”

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