Georgia middle school’s ban on cell phones in classrooms may come to high schools next year. According to Fox 5 Atlanta, House Bill 1009, sponsored by Scott Hilton, R-Peachtree Corners, was approved unanimously by a House education subcommittee. The bill would prohibit device use from bell to bell for students in grades nine through 12, beginning in the 2027-28 school year.

“It’s good for students to have their attention just focused on whatever’s happening in class that day and not trying to communicate with friends [on their phones] or just scrolling through videos or whatever they do,” ESOL Teacher Ginger Skelton said.

Most students use their cell phones to try to cheat by searching up answers, making AI do their work for them, texting, or just scrolling. Even though teachers tell students who are using their phone during class time to put the phone away, they hide their phone until the teacher looks away and continues to use it.

“As a teacher, I think that’s a good thing, because during class, I don’t have to worry about students being on the phone,” math teacher Vivian Sihachack said. “Making the change will be good as a parent. I understand wanting your kid to have a phone so you can get a hold of them. I do think that’s important. I just don’t think that’s what phones are mostly used for,” Sihachack said.

Some students struggle with not having a lot of friends because not many people communicate with each other due to their cell phones. When the bell rings, everyone takes their phone from the carrier and goes to social media immediately, leaving no time to talk with other students.

“Kids are less social, less likely to talk with friends and things like that when they are on their phones,” Spanish, U.S. history and ESOL teacher Kristin Brooker said. “Everyone wants to get on their phones, and that’s sad. I like having kids that are talking too much because they’re talking and they’re making friends,” Brooker said.

Students not only use cell phones but also listen to music the whole class or day through their headphones. According to Medium, 97.5% of students report that music actually distracts their concentration.

“I think that not having the distraction of cell phones will improve students’ grades, because they’ll be more focused on what they’re learning and less focused on trying to check on different things on their phone, they just won’t be as distracted. So I think not having cell phones might be better for students, like mental health,” Biology and ESOL teacher Casey Kreithener said.