On Oct. 1, Sens. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Tom Cotton (R-AK) introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at keeping phones out of the hands of children while in the classroom. According to Kelly’s press release, the Unplugged Schools Grant Act “would establish a federal grant program for states that adopt policies prohibiting students from possessing or using personal electronic devices during school hours. The funding would help schools put those policies into practice, including by paying for secure storage options such as lockers, lock boxes, or phone pouches.”
This is a welcome step in an age when technology dominates so much of our lives. It is especially important in the classroom, where screens now compete for students’ attention at nearly every moment. But removing electronic devices and focusing on learning only addresses part of the problem. The bigger challenge is teaching children and young adults to navigate a world in which screens are ever-present. They need to learn how to socialize, occupy themselves, and, yes, be bored in this tech-fueled world.
