BY SUMMER CRANDALL

I used to send videos of my classroom to my mom: students with heads down, phones lit in hand, or furtively sharing answers. From the front of the room a teacher paced, teaching to a sea of screens while students pushed through assignments, cheated on quizzes, or scrolled instead of listening. 

What looked at first like simple distraction felt more like a pattern of negligence not from teachers, but from a system that let phones stay central to the school day with no consistent enforcement or consequence. 

And it’s not just a school problem as these issues have found their way into the workforce. Employers report that younger workers often lack social skills and struggle with phone addiction. This isn’t just a school problem. It’s a worldwide issue. However, many countries have begun to try and fight this perceived issue. Many states in the US have banned cell phones from schools or told schools to create policies banning phone use. Missouri is one of these states. 

Missouri put a new state-mandate into place that bans phones and the Independence School District uses  locking pouches in schools. The question is simple: is it working?

In July 2025, Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a law requiring every public school district in Missouri to adopt policies restricting cellphone use during the school day, with exceptions for emergencies or classroom instruction (KCUR). The bill, passed earlier by the legislature, aims to reduce distractions and boost student engagement (Missouri Independent).

A study at Auburn University found that phone-free classrooms led to higher focus and lower stress, but experts caution that bans only work when paired with strong teaching practices (Missouri Independent).

As students, we see the effects every day. Some feel freer, while others feel cut off. Teachers say lessons run smoother, but cheating hasn’t disappeared. Parents still worry about safety and emergencies.

That’s why our newspaper will be launching a student, teacher, and parent survey to collect first-hand data on the phone ban’s impact on Independence. With a big enough sample size we can get a clearer picture of whether phones are truly out of the classroom, or if they’re just finding sneakier ways back in.

Take the survey here:google form