The new year often brings changes in people’s lives. Likewise, the Virginia education system also has changed a few of their rules. As of January 1st, 2025, all Virginia students are required to turn off their phones and other cellular devices and keep them stored away during the bell-to-bell schedule, including during passing periods and lunch. Governor Glenn Youngkin put an executive order in place to enforce this and the Virginia Department of Education suggested for the law to be mandated.
In recent years, cell phones have been one of the main concerns regarding schooling and education to adolescents. There are several different ways to perceive their uses and importance. They can provide a sense of safety and security in case of a school emergency. They can also sometimes be the direct threat, when students threaten their own peers with their phones.
According to School Security. Org, “Cell phones have been used to make bomb, shootings, and other threats to schools which may require extended time to investigate and identify the perpetrators.”
Safety at school has always been a priority for staff and faculty to protect their students. However, with technology and its advancements, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to protect everyone at school, and electronics are partly to blame.
“Ringing or vibrating cell phones can disrupt classes and distract students who should be paying attention to their lessons. Text message has been used for cheating,” states School Security. Org.
Besides being a security risk, devices are commonly used for cheating and can be distracting. Whether on tests, exams, sharing answers, or any other assignments it’s very common for students to share answers with their peers, as well as get distracted in class due to their device’s notifications or the contents on it.
“As noted earlier above, times evolve and technology use certainly evolves with them. Cell phones, iPads, digital gaming, and other technology is being integrated into the day-to-day learning experience of many students in schools across the nation,” says School Security Org.
Despite the drawbacks, devices can also be very helpful. They can make learning easier for students. Technology allows for teachers to smoothly and efficiently teach their students material. If a math teacher wants to show how to solve a problem, they can easily show their ipad or screen and guide their students through the process.
“Having technology in schools as instructional tools, and believing one can simultaneously eliminate the ability of students to communicate electronically with each other and the outside community, is likely unrealistic thinking,” expressed School Security Org.
Students are influenced to be social by teachers, parents, and their environment around them. Being social is a positive thing, however, and as technology evolves and people do as well, the internet has become the #1 place to be social and talk to friends and family. Schools influence you to stay social but ban technology, which conflicts with itself and can cause students to not interact with each other as much.
“Technology evolves. Society evolves. And so must our thinking on the role of cell phones and other technology in schools,” says School Security Org.
