Governor Lamont calls for cell phone ban to limit distractions in schools

MANCHESTER, CT (WFSB) - Governor Ned Lamont is advocating for the removal of cell phones from classrooms in an effort to reduce distractions and improve student engagement.

Governor Lamont believes that limiting cell phone use will help students connect more personally and focus better in class.

“Now the kids are connecting personally in a way they weren’t when they spent a lot of their time looking down at their phone,” he said.

In response to the Governor’s push, Manchester High School has implemented a policy requiring students to store their phones away during the school day.

However, some parents have expressed concerns about the policy.

Aishia McCall, a local parent, voiced her worries, stating, If they have a lockdown, I know they have them for various reasons. Once they’re locked in and you want to call the school to get ahold of your child, they’re not going to go into a locked room and find them for you. So, it’s just a lot easier.”

Despite these concerns, Governor Lamont points to positive outcomes in schools that have already adopted similar policies. Schools in Manchester, Torrington, Brookfield, and Hartford are using phone-locking systems such as the YONDR Pouch to manage distractions.

New Britain is exploring an alternative approach by regulating Wi-Fi access within schools.

“When you go into the school, you can’t get any website or anything that’s not allowed,” said McCall.

Lamont aims to see smartphones removed from classrooms statewide by this fall.

Patrice McCarthy, President of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, believes decisions about technology use should be made at the local level.

“A lot of technology can be a distraction. They also have a place where they can support academics in the classroom. Those things that school boards have to balance when looking at policies,” McCarthy said.

She advocates for teaching students responsible use of technology rather than outright removal.

Districts are currently responsible for the costs associated with phone management systems like YONDR, but Lamont has suggested that state funding for these tools may be discussed in the future.