BEAUFORT, S.C. – South Carolina made it illegal for students in public schools to use cell phones last year. This means that kids will be a little less connected this coming school year.
During days of talks on the state’s $13.8 billion budget, the clause was one of many funding conditions that were agreed upon by a group.
Public school areas must follow the statewide policy, which will be made by the State Board of Education, to get state funds.
Beaufort County Schools Superintendent Dr. Frank Rodriguez says the goal is to improve kids’ mental health and cut down on bullying both in person and online. It does affect the kids. For lack of a better word, it looks like students are hooked on or too linked to their devices. And it cuts into teachers’ time to teach. And that’s very important.
The head of schools in Beaufort County, Dr. Frank Rodriguez, says that his county has been working on a cell phone ban for a long time, even before the state law was passed.
Years ago, teachers asked, and now even some students have added their voice to the call.
Rodriguez says, “I had student advisory committees that let me meet with groups of students at high schools.” “One thing I learned from them is that even though they might not be thrilled or happy about being limited during the day, they understood and would welcome it as a bit of a breeze.”
Rodriguez and Beaufort County are not waiting until January to start following the rule. On August 1, the first day of school, all smartphones will be banned in all schools.
There will be differences based on how old the kids are.
Rodriguez says, “It will be illegal in elementary and middle school.” “It should be put away so that it can’t be seen during the day.” It’s the same in high school. Even though it will be illegal, they will be able to use it during lunch in places chosen by the director, such as the cafeteria.
Some parents have worried about the safety of their children when cell phones are banned, but Rodriguez tells those parents that their children can still have their phones. They should just keep them out of their hands and in their bags during class.
The State and Beaufort County are still figuring out what fines kids who don’t follow the rules should get.
Rodriguez says that Beautiful County will make its own punishment plan if the state law isn’t in place by August.
