While cell phones are nearly unavoidable in today’s digital era, these devices once handy now face blame for their harmful effects in schools, from classroom distraction to widespread cyber-bullying.
On Wednesday, Gov. Phil Murphy in a visit to Woodbury Junior-Senior High School in Gloucester County proposed a $3 million spending initiative to help speed up and implement cellphone restrictions in New Jersey classrooms. It was something he first put forward in his State of the State address in January.
Currently, legislation is pending in the Legislature that would require school districts to adopt policies restricting the use of cellphones in classrooms.
Last fall, Woodbury Junior-Senior High School implemented its own policy at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, where students’ cellphones are locked away until the final school bell.
During his visit, the governor spoke with educators about how the new policy would help to limit classroom distractions and create healthier learning environments.
“ You’ve got a mental health crisis among youth that was only exacerbated with the pandemic,” Murphy said. “I’ve seen it with our four kids in terms of how much they’re on phones.
“We know it’s distracting,” he continued. “It’s probably contributing to stress and mental health challenges, and it’s taking place in a school setting. It’s taking too much attention away from why the kids are there in the first place.”
