BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (Aiexpress) – A South Carolina Department of Education policy requires elementary, middle, and high school students to turn off their phones at school.
Statewide, school districts were obliged to begin adopting the policy in January, but the Beaufort County School District has been doing so since the fall.
“It basically allows our students to focus on their learning and our teachers to focus on their teaching,” said Frank Rodriguez, the district’s superintendent.
As the county worked on a strategy, they heard from numerous students and parents about their concerns. Finally, Rodriguez stated that they determined that the ideal combination of safety and focus in the classroom was to allow students to keep their phones in their pockets while ensuring that they were not being used.
“We’re hearing that teachers appreciate that, limiting the distraction of a cellphone available to them,” Rodriguez told me. “To be honest with you, I’ve heard from students who say it’s almost like a relief.”
While Beaufort County families are accustomed to the policy, others in South Carolina are beginning the semester with new guidelines, which raises concerns.
“Anything can happen in a split second, and they won’t be able to contact anyone,” said Aiyanna Bellamy, a Hampton County mom.
Aiyanna Bellamy’s daughter is a Hampton County student. She hopes her district will follow Beaufort’s example.
“Keeping the phones on their person with the volume off is a good idea, especially for like, in case something is going on in the school and they did have to call 911,” Bellamy told CNN.
Any public school system in South Carolina that does not comply with the regulation risks losing state funds.
