US states are considering banning smartphones in schools as a response to the growing dependency children have on these devices. California and New York, two of the most populous states, are currently discussing state-wide policies on the issue. The concern is not new, as schools have been debating smartphone use for decades. However, the recent wave of regulations aims to further restrict phone use in schools. Many schools already have policies in place, with about 76% of schools prohibiting non-academic phone use in the 2021-2022 school year.

The debate surrounding phones in schools has been ongoing since the devices became popular. Early critics were concerned about distractions and their association with the drug trade. However, after the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School, phones were seen as a crucial communication tool for emergencies. Some states relaxed their phone bans, including California, which repealed its ban in 2002. The debate resurfaced as schools recognized phones as a distraction, a tool for cyberbullying, and a means for cheating. The city of New York initially enforced a strict ban but later allowed individual schools to set their own policies.

The current push to ban smartphones in schools is also driven by concerns about student mental health and social media use. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has called for warning labels on social media platforms, comparing them to cigarette warning labels. Research has shown that excessive social media use can increase the risk of mental health problems in adolescents. Experts argue that phones in schools make it difficult for students to focus, build relationships, and learn effectively.

Implementing and enforcing these policies is a challenge. Schools need strong community consensus and consistent enforcement for the policies to be effective. Ken Trump, the president of the National School Safety and Security Services, emphasizes the complexity of the issue. In Los Angeles, board members recently voted to ban smartphones from schools, but the details of how the policy will be implemented are still unclear. Some students argue that monitoring thousands of students in large campuses is practically impossible.

In conclusion, US states are considering banning smartphones in schools to address the growing dependency children have on these devices. The debate has been ongoing for years, but recent concerns about student mental health and social media use have reignited the discussion. Implementing and enforcing these policies pose challenges, but schools are striving to strike a balance between safety and limiting distractions.

Original news source: US states want to ban phones in schools. It might be a challenge (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary

Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will read the article and then create a concise summary of the main points. They should focus on capturing the key arguments, concerns, and proposed solutions regarding the use of smartphones in schools. After a designated time, each group will present their summary to the class, and the class can discuss any differences or similarities in their summaries.

– Opinion Poll

Instructions: Create a list of statements related to the use of smartphones in schools, such as “Smartphones should be completely banned in schools” or “Smartphones should be allowed for educational purposes only.” Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Each group will discuss the statements and indicate whether they agree or disagree, providing reasons for their opinions. After the discussion, conduct a class-wide poll by having each group share their opinions and tallying the responses on the board. Discuss the results as a class and encourage respectful debate.

– Vocabulary Pictionary

Instructions: Provide each student with a list of vocabulary words from the article, such as “dependency,” “restrict,” “cyberbullying,” and “consensus.” Randomly select one student to come to the front of the class and choose a word from the list without showing it to the class. The student will then have to draw a picture that represents the word, while the rest of the class tries to guess what the word is. The first student to guess correctly will have a turn to draw the next word.

– Pros and Cons

Instructions: Divide the class into two groups. Assign one group to create a list of the pros of allowing smartphones in schools, and assign the other group to create a list of the cons. After a designated time, have each group present their lists to the class. Encourage the students to consider various perspectives and provide evidence to support their points. Facilitate a class discussion where students can express their opinions and debate the pros and cons of allowing smartphones in schools.

– Future Predictions

Instructions: In pairs or small groups, have students discuss and make predictions about the future of smartphones in schools. They should consider factors such as technological advancements, societal attitudes, and potential policy changes. Each group will then present their predictions to the class, explaining their reasoning and supporting their ideas with evidence from the article or their own knowledge. Encourage the class to ask questions and engage in a thoughtful discussion about the potential future impact of smartphones in schools.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What are some of the concerns that have led to the push to ban smartphones in schools?
2. How have phones in schools been viewed differently since the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School?
3. Why did some states relax their phone bans after the shooting at Columbine?
4. How have phones been recognized as a distraction in schools?
5. What are some of the negative effects of excessive social media use on adolescents?
6. What challenges do schools face in implementing and enforcing smartphone bans?
7. Why do some students argue against banning smartphones in schools?
8. How are schools trying to strike a balance between safety and limiting distractions?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

US states are considering (1)______ smartphones in schools as a response to the growing (2)______ children have on these (3)______. California and New York, two of the most populous states, are currently discussing state-wide policies on the issue. The concern is not new, as schools have been debating smartphone use for decades. However, the recent wave of regulations aims to further restrict phone use in schools. Many schools already have policies in place, with about 76% of schools prohibiting non-academic phone use in the 2021-2022 school year.

The debate surrounding phones in schools has been ongoing since the devices became popular. (4)______ critics were concerned about distractions and their association with the drug trade. However, after the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School, phones were seen as a crucial communication tool for emergencies. Some states (5)______ their phone bans, including California, which repealed its ban in 2002. The debate resurfaced as (6)______ recognized phones as a distraction, a tool for cyberbullying, and a means for cheating. The city of New York initially enforced a strict ban but later allowed (7)______ schools to set their own policies.

The (8)______ push to ban smartphones in schools is also driven by concerns about student mental health and social media use. Surgeon General (9)______ Murthy has called for warning labels on (10)______ media platforms, comparing them to cigarette warning labels. Research has shown that excessive social media use can increase the risk of mental health problems in adolescents. Experts argue that phones in schools make it difficult for students to focus, build relationships, and learn effectively.

Implementing and (11)______ these policies is a challenge. Schools need strong community consensus and consistent enforcement for the policies to be effective. Ken Trump, the president of the National School Safety and Security Services, (12)______ the complexity of the issue. In Los Angeles, board members recently voted to ban smartphones from schools, but the details of how the policy will be implemented are still unclear. Some students argue that monitoring thousands of students in large (13)______ is practically impossible.

In conclusion, US states are considering banning smartphones in schools to address the growing dependency children have on these devices. The debate has been ongoing for (14)______, but recent concerns about student mental health and social media use have (15)______ the (16)______. Implementing and enforcing these policies pose challenges, but schools are striving to strike a balance between safety and limiting distractions.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your opinion on banning smartphones in schools?
2. How would you feel if your state implemented a ban on smartphones in schools?
3. Do you think banning smartphones in schools would be effective in addressing the dependency children have on these devices? Why or why not?
4. How do you think banning smartphones in schools would impact students’ ability to communicate during emergencies?
5. Do you think smartphones are a distraction in schools? Why or why not?
6. What are some potential benefits of allowing smartphones in schools?
7. How do you think banning smartphones in schools would affect students’ social relationships?
8. Do you think excessive social media use can negatively impact students’ mental health? Why or why not?
9. How do you think banning smartphones in schools would impact students’ ability to learn effectively?
10. Have you ever experienced or witnessed cyberbullying through smartphones? How did it affect the individuals involved?
11. What are some alternative solutions to addressing the dependency children have on smartphones in schools?
12. How do you think banning smartphones in schools would impact students’ overall safety?
13. Do you think it is fair for individual schools to set their own policies regarding smartphone use? Why or why not?
14. How do you think banning smartphones in schools would affect parents’ ability to communicate with their children during school hours?
15. What strategies do you think schools can use to effectively enforce a ban on smartphones?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. dependency
2. populous
3. regulations
4. prohibiting
5. crucial
6. repealed
7. resurfaced
8. cyberbullying
9. adolescents
10. consensus
11. emphasizes
12. complexity
13. implemented
14. monitoring
15. reignited

Meanings:
(A) Put into effect or action
(B) Appeared again or came back into consideration
(C) Extremely important or necessary
(D) Formally forbidding something by law, rule, or other authority
(E) Revoked or annulled a law or congressional act
(F) Stresses or highlights the importance of something
(G) A state of relying on or being controlled by something else
(H) General agreement or harmony among a group
(I) Having a large population
(J) Young people in the process of developing from a child into an adult
(K) Started up again or renewed after a period of inactivity
(L) Rules or directives made and maintained by an authority
(M) The use of electronic communication to bully a person
(N) Observing and checking the progress or quality of something over a period of time
(O) The state of having many different parts connected in a complicated way
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the main concern driving the push to ban smartphones in schools?
(a) Growing dependency children have on these devices
(b) Lack of communication tools for emergencies
(c) Distractions and association with the drug trade
(d) Cheating and cyberbullying

2. How many schools prohibited non-academic phone use in the 2021-2022 school year?
(a) 76%
(b) 50%
(c) 25%
(d) 100%

3. When did California repeal its ban on smartphones in schools?
(a) 1999
(b) 2021
(c) It has not repealed its ban
(d) 2002

4. What is one of the concerns about smartphones in schools mentioned in the article?
(a) They are associated with the drug trade
(b) They make it difficult for students to focus, build relationships, and learn effectively
(c) They are a crucial communication tool for emergencies
(d) They are a means for cheating

5. What has Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for in relation to social media platforms?
(a) A complete ban
(b) Increased advertising
(c) Warning labels
(d) More research

6. What is one of the challenges in implementing and enforcing smartphone bans in schools?
(a) Monitoring thousands of students in large campuses is practically impossible
(b) Strong community consensus and consistent enforcement are needed
(c) There is no support from parents and teachers
(d) The policies are too strict and unrealistic

7. What is the main focus of the debate surrounding smartphones in schools?
(a) Lack of communication tools for emergencies
(b) Distractions and association with the drug trade
(c) Student mental health and social media use
(d) Cheating and cyberbullying

8. What is the current trend regarding smartphone bans in schools?
(a) All states have already implemented bans
(b) The debate has completely died down and there are no discussions happening
(c) Schools are allowing unlimited phone use during school hours
(d) Some states are considering state-wide policies to further restrict phone use

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has compared social media platforms to cigarette warning labels and called for warning labels on them.
2. Implementing and enforcing smartphone permissions in schools pose challenges, including the simplicity of monitoring thousands of students in large campuses.
3. After the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School, phones were seen as an unnecessary communication tool for emergencies.
4. Early critics of phones in schools were concerned about distractions and their association with the drug trade.
5. Approximately 24% of schools prohibited non-academic phone use in the 2021-2022 school year.
6. Some states, including California, repealed their phone bans in the early 2000s.
7. The current push to allow smartphones in schools is driven by concerns about student mental health and social media use.
8. California and New York are currently discussing state-wide policies on banning smartphones in schools.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What are the concerns driving the current push to ban smartphones in schools?
2. How have schools’ policies on smartphone use evolved over time?
3. Why are some experts comparing social media platforms to cigarette warning labels?
4. What challenges do schools face when implementing and enforcing smartphone bans?
5. What is the goal of schools in striking a balance between safety and limiting distractions?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Some of the concerns that have led to the push to ban smartphones in schools include distractions, association with the drug trade, cyberbullying, cheating, and negative effects on student mental health.
2. Since the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School, phones in schools have been viewed as a crucial communication tool for emergencies.
3. Some states relaxed their phone bans after the shooting at Columbine because phones were seen as a necessary tool for safety and communication during emergencies.
4. Phones have been recognized as a distraction in schools because they can make it difficult for students to focus, build relationships, and learn effectively.
5. Excessive social media use has been linked to an increased risk of mental health problems in adolescents, such as depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.
6. Schools face challenges in implementing and enforcing smartphone bans, including the need for strong community consensus, consistent enforcement, and the practical difficulty of monitoring thousands of students in large campuses.
7. Some students argue against banning smartphones in schools because they believe it is impractical to monitor all students, and they may argue that smartphones can be useful for educational purposes.
8. Schools are trying to strike a balance between safety and limiting distractions by implementing policies that address concerns about distractions, mental health, and social media use while also considering the practical challenges of enforcement.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) banning
(2) dependency
(3) devices
(4) Early
(5) relaxed
(6) schools
(7) individual
(8) current
(9) Vivek
(10) social
(11) enforcing
(12) emphasizes
(13) campuses
(14) years
(15) reignited
(16) discussion
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. dependency
Answer: (G) A state of relying on or being controlled by something else

2. populous
Answer: (I) Having a large population

3. regulations
Answer: (L) Rules or directives made and maintained by an authority

4. prohibiting
Answer: (D) Formally forbidding something by law, rule, or other authority

5. crucial
Answer: (C) Extremely important or necessary

6. repealed
Answer: (E) Revoked or annulled a law or congressional act

7. resurfaced
Answer: (B) Appeared again or came back into consideration

8. cyberbullying
Answer: (M) The use of electronic communication to bully a person

9. adolescents
Answer: (J) Young people in the process of developing from a child into an adult

10. consensus
Answer: (H) General agreement or harmony among a group

11. emphasizes
Answer: (F) Stresses or highlights the importance of something

12. complexity
Answer: (O) The state of having many different parts connected in a complicated way

13. implemented
Answer: (A) Put into effect or action

14. monitoring
Answer: (N) Observing and checking the progress or quality of something over a period of time

15. reignited
Answer: (K) Started up again or renewed after a period of inactivity
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the main concern driving the push to ban smartphones in schools?
Answer: (a) Growing dependency children have on these devices

2. How many schools prohibited non-academic phone use in the 2021-2022 school year?
Answer: (a) 76%

3. When did California repeal its ban on smartphones in schools?
Answer: (d) 2002

4. What is one of the concerns about smartphones in schools mentioned in the article?
Answer: (b) They make it difficult for students to focus, build relationships, and learn effectively

5. What has Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for in relation to social media platforms?
Answer: (c) Warning labels

6. What is one of the challenges in implementing and enforcing smartphone bans in schools?
Answer: (b) Strong community consensus and consistent enforcement are needed

7. What is the main focus of the debate surrounding smartphones in schools?
Answer: (c) Student mental health and social media use

8. What is the current trend regarding smartphone bans in schools?
Answer: (d) Some states are considering state-wide policies to further restrict phone use
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has compared social media platforms to cigarette warning labels and called for warning labels on them. (Answer: True)
2. Implementing and enforcing smartphone permissions in schools pose challenges, including the simplicity of monitoring thousands of students in large campuses. (Answer: False)
3. After the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School, phones were seen as an unnecessary communication tool for emergencies. (Answer: False)
4. Early critics of phones in schools were concerned about distractions and their association with the drug trade. (Answer: True)
5. Approximately 24% of schools prohibited non-academic phone use in the 2021-2022 school year. (Answer: False)
6. Some states, including California, repealed their phone bans in the early 2000s. (Answer: True)
7. The current push to allow smartphones in schools is driven by concerns about student mental health and social media use. (Answer: False)
8. California and New York are currently discussing state-wide policies on banning smartphones in schools. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧