In a significant move to curb distractions in classrooms, the Michigan House of Representatives has voted to prohibit smartphone use during class time in public K-12 schools. This bill, introduced by State Representative Mark Tisdel (R-Rochester Hills), aims to establish a consistent statewide policy rather than leaving it to individual districts.
Tisdel remarked, “Every single one of them has some kind of cell phone policy, it’s a question of implementation and enforcement,” highlighting the need for a uniform approach to manage phone usage in schools. He added, “If you start to enforce and get any parental push back, it can be very easy to say this is not a fight we want to pick today. And that’s why it’s necessary for a statewide standard.”
This initiative marks the second attempt to pass such legislation, following a previous failure when a combination of Democrats and a Republican rejected it. However, the current proposal saw overwhelming bipartisan support, passing with a 99-10 vote.
Critics of the bill have expressed concerns about local control and the necessity for exceptions, especially for educational purposes where phones might be beneficial. The approved version provides exemptions for medical needs, educational activities involving devices, and basic phones that lack internet capabilities.
State Representative Regina Weiss (D-Oak Park), who has witnessed the disruptive nature of smartphones firsthand, praised the efforts to reach a compromise. She noted, “A lot of times kids would get into fights on Snapchat that would turn into actual physical fights during the school day. This would help mitigate that from happening and also help with that addictive nature of a smartphone.”
The bill now proceeds to the state Senate, where a companion bill awaits consideration. If passed, the ban would be implemented in the upcoming school year.
House Republican leadership views this vote as a proactive step towards a productive legislative year. Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp) emphasized the House’s commitment to bold initiatives, stating, “I don’t care that it’s an election year. We’re going to take risks, we’re going to do bold things. We’re going to do very similar to last year. My hope is that we’ll come forward with some very aggressive and needed changes to Michigan law that are going to make life better for people.”
Hall highlighted affordability as a key priority, proposing measures to reduce property taxes and healthcare costs through transparency. This aligns with recent remarks by former President Donald Trump, who criticized the term “affordability” as a “fake word by Democrats” while also pledging to reduce prices. For more on Trump’s speech, you can view the video here.
On the Democratic side, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) acknowledged challenges in finding common ground with the House. She noted differing views on factors affecting energy costs and potential solutions but remains optimistic about achieving meaningful outcomes for Michigan residents.
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