Phones Out

No phones in class:

Aument said that smartphones present a big distraction for students when it comes to learning in school, adding that smartphones also play a role in students' mental health. Consequently, the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee has agreed to pilot a grant program that will provide certain schools throughout the state with lockable bags that will hold students' smartphones until the end of the school day. 'I can't think of another issue I worked on in the 14 years I've been here that's resonated quite like this has.' The grant program would also give education employees locks to store smartphones in as well, per the report. Additionally, the proposed legislation would implement a performance review of the smartphone storage plan, monitoring and tracking academic achievement and students' mental health over two years to see how effective the program is. "I can't think of another issue I worked on in the 14 years I've been here that's resonated quite like this has," Aument said earlier this week. "I just think it's critically important that we free our kids from these devices for six and a half hours during the school day and the response we've gotten from parents and the response we've gotten from educators has been overwhelmingly positive," he continued.

Lock 'em up...