By State Sen. Daryl Schmitt (R-Jasper)
Ensuring Hoosier children are getting a proper education is one of my top priorities as a state senator.
Today's children are our future leaders, and I want to make sure they have the tools necessary to build an even stronger economy in the decades ahead.
In order for children to get the best education possible, I believe they need to be paying attention in school. However, with the increase in technology available to students, this has become increasingly difficult.
In a recent survey released by the National Center on Education Statistics, more than 50% of public-school leaders believe academic performance has been impacted by the use of cell phones at school, and more than 70% believe cell phone usage has negatively impacted student mental health.
That's why I supported Senate Bill 78 during a recent Senate Committee on Education and Career Development meeting.
The bill would prohibit students from using cell phones and other personal devices during the duration of the school day, allowing students to focus on their lessons.
Senate Bill 78 builds upon a recent law that prohibits the use of personal electronic devices during instructional time. However, current law only limits use during instructional time while the new legislation would limit the use during the entire school day.
The bill does not ban technology in the classroom, it simply prohibits personal devices from being used. School-issued computers and other devices can still be used in the classroom. The bill also makes exception under certain circumstances for things like medical conditions, language translation and if authorized by a superintendent.
As always, constituents can reach out to me with any questions or concerns by email at s48@iga.in.gov or by phone at 1-800-382-9467.
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State Sen. Daryl Schmitt (R-Jasper) represents Senate District 48,
which includes Crawford, Dubois, Gibson, Perry, Pike and Spencer counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
