The Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) ban on cell phone use on school campuses has sparked a divide among parents.
On June 18, the LAUSD Board of Education voted to pass a resolution prohibiting the use of cell phones on school grounds. The decision has led to a divide among parents, with some supporting the move as beneficial, while others express safety concerns.
Inhwa Choi, a parent of a fifth-grader at Wonderland Elementary School, strongly supports the ban on cell phone use.
“Before this regulation was announced, the school was already pushing for a ban on cell phone use and even conducted a parent survey,” Choi said. “It’s a necessary regulation. It can prevent students from using phones during class and reduce issues like cyberbullying and the risk of losing phones, which will positively affect the children.”
[Adobe Stock]
She added, “If parents need to contact their children, they can use the school phone. In an emergency, the school will contact us first. I don’t believe not having a cell phone poses any danger.”
Hyojung Kim, a parent of a second-grader, shared similar sentiments.
“In an emergency, children wouldn’t be able to contact us themselves,” Kim said. “Also, even if parents call, children can’t just pick up the phone during class, so I don’t think not having a cell phone will cause any problems.”
Kim added, “While cell phones can be convenient and helpful for safety in various situations, it’s best for children to avoid using them as much as possible for academic and developmental reasons.”
Some parents also mentioned the reduced burden of having to buy cell phones for their children. A parent of a fourth-grader, identified only by the surname Kim, said, “The age at which students carry cell phones is getting younger. My son also begged for one because all his friends have them. I refused, but I worry about him being bullied for this. If cell phone use is entirely banned on school campuses, the age at which children first get phones might increase.”
However, some parents oppose the ban, citing the need for cell phones for their children’s safety and communication. Seo, a parent of seventh and tenth graders, said, “Using cell phones during class isn’t as easy as parents fear. But with the increase in serious incidents like school shootings, emergencies can happen anytime, and it would be frustrating not to be able to contact our children immediately.”
The LAUSD’s new regulation bans the use of cell phones and social media during all school hours. The district plans to finalize the details and implement the rule starting January next year, pending approval from the Board of Education.
BY SUAH JANG, YOUNGNAM KIM [jang.suah@koreadaily.com]
