Summary
Cellphone bans in schools are gaining bipartisan momentum, with at least eight states, including California, Florida, and Virginia, enacting restrictions to combat classroom distractions and protect children’s mental health.
Governors from both parties, such as Arkansas’ Sarah Huckabee Sanders and California’s Gavin Newsom, support these measures, citing benefits of phone-free school days.
While some parents oppose bans, citing emergencies and transportation needs, proponents argue phones disrupt learning and may pose risks during crises.
States differ on implementation, from outright bans to district-level policies or funding for phone storage solutions.
Different culture here:
I see these being abused by pranksters. Also, that requires you to go outside of the classroom in a crisis where the gunman is typically roaming the halls.
That can happen occasionally. But if you explain to the children why it’s important to not abuse this one button, it will hopefully reduce the number.
You’d only really know there is a crisis when you hear shots being fired regardless. People in the hallways already - be it teachers or students - would also be able to hear the shots and press the button. And in case nobody is in the hallways, teachers inside class rooms can call 911 anyways since a phone ban doesn’t extend to them.
You could install a button in each classroom if you want to 100% avoid your scenario.
I had actual bomb threats called in to my high school weekly for such reasons as “I didn’t want to take my math test”. I can guarantee with certainty this button would be constantly abused in American schools.