![High school students are petitioning against schools in several states across the U.S. as cellphone bans come into effect.](https://san.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Students-Petition-Against-Cell-Phone-Bans-FEAT-IMAGE-Getty.jpg?w=1920)
Lauren Taylor
STUDENTS ARE HEADING BACK TO SCHOOL –
AND SOME ARE FIGHTING BACK AGAINST CELL PHONE BANS SET TO GO INTO EFFECT FOR THEIR DISTRICTS.
THOUSANDS HAVE SIGNED PETITIONS IN FLORIDA, LOUISIANA, AND NEVADA DECLARING THEY WANT ACCESS TO THEIR CELL PHONES DURING SCHOOL HOURS.
BROWARD COUNTY SCHOOLS IN MIAMI, FLORIDA IMPLEMENTED NEW RESTRICTIONS FOR STUDENT CELL PHONE USE.
THE SCHOOL BOARD REQUIRING STUDENTS TO STORE THEIR PHONES IN AIRPLANE MODE DURING THE SCHOOL DAY, INCLUDING THE LUNCH HOUR.
STUDENTS IN BROWARD COUNTY WILL ALSO BE BARRED FROM WEARING HEADPHONES DURING SCHOOL HOURS.
THE RESTRICTIONS GO INTO EFFECT MONDAY – HOWEVER, MORE THAN 18-THOUSAND STUDENTS AND PARENTS HAVE SIGNED A PETITION TO “REQUEST A MEETING” TO DISCUSS THE REGULATIONS – “AND EXPLORE POTENTIAL ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CURRENT POLICY.”
AND STUDENTS IN MIAMI AREN’T ALONE.
IN PRAIRIEVILLE, LOUISIANA – MORE THAN 11-THOUSAND PEOPLE SIGNED A STUDENT’S PETITION OPPOSING LOUISIANA’S NEW SCHOOL CELL PHONE BAN – AND AT PRAIRIEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, STUDENTS CAN BE FINED IF THEIR PHONE IS EVEN VISIBLE.
THE YOUNG GIRL BEHIND THE PETITION SAYS HIGH SCHOOLERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO SELF-REGULATE THEIR CELL PHONE USE TIME.
(KAYTLIN VILLESCAS / PETITION CREATOR)
“THE STUDENTS HAVE CAME UP TO ME AND SAID ‘HEY I SAW YOUR PETITION, I SIGNED IT, AND WE HOPE YOU COULD BE A VOICE AND WE COULD GET SOME OF OUR, YOU KNOW, THAT MAKES SCHOOL TOLERABLE FOR US BACK.”
Lauren Taylor:
SHE SAID SHE SENT HER CONCERNS TO LOUISIANA GOVERNOR LANDRY AND HASN’T HEARD BACK.
AND THIS TREND IS HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
STUDENTS IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA ARE ALSO SHARING THEIR CONCERNS – MORE THAN 25-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED A PETITION THERE – AS THE CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT REQUIRES STUDENTS IN GRADES 6 THROUGH 12 TO PUT THEIR PHONES IN SIGNAL-BLOCKING POUCHES WHEN THEY ARRIVE TO SCHOOL EACH DAY.
THE POUCHES DON’T LOCK BUT DO BLOCK THE CELL PHONE FROM RECEIVING A SIGNAL WHICH THE DISTRICT SAYS “IS TO ENSURE A DISTRACTION-FREE AND SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.”
THE DISTRICT SAYS STUDENTS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR PHONES IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
THE PETITION STATES THE CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD SHOULD FOCUS THEIR ATTENTION ON QUOTE “MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES” SUCH AS BEEFING UP FUNDING FOR SCHOOL LUNCHES AND TEACHERS’ SALARIES AS WELL AS SECURITY FOR BULLYING AND HARASSMENT.
ALL THREE OF THESE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WELCOMED BACK STUDENTS ON MONDAY.
SO FAR – NONE OF THE DISTRICTS HAVE CHANGED THEIR CELL PHONE POLICY BECAUSE OF THE SIGNED PETITIONS.
FOR SAN, I’M LT..