Why some NH schools are restricting use of phones inside classrooms

At least 14 states have passed legislation or policy that bans students from using cellphones inside schools. While New Hampshire has no state-level policy restricting the use of phones inside school premises, some schools have taken down to making their own rules. 

At Rundlett Middle School in Concord, students are required to store their phones away in their lockers from the moment they arrive in school until they leave. 

Rundlett Principal Jay Richard believes even if students are allowed ro carry the phones, they’d be tempted to use them, and he personally encourages a more hands-on learning approach, as per reporting by The Concord Monitor. 

Bow High School, which  put in place a phone rule last year,  prohibits students from using phones inside classrooms, but permits them to be used elsewhere on campus. 

In February, the state Department of Education  issued guidelines banning the use of phones and electronic devices during state assessments such as laptops, iPads, and smartwatches.

Last year, Florida became the first state to require all public schools to prohibit students from using their cell phones in class, and there has been much discussion on the feasibility of putting a statewide ban on using phones inside classrooms. 

While many New Hampshire school teachers and administrators do not support a total ban and think that communication among students, and with parents is necessary for pickup logistics, or transport to part-time jobs, use of phones is known to be associated with higher rates of anxiety and depression among students. In addition, approximately nine in 10 public schools report occurrences of cyberbullying. 

Other schools in the state that have some restrictions on phone use of phones inside school include Concord High School, Kearsarge Regional High Schools, and Merrimack Valley High School.