DUBLIN, Ohio — Ohio educators and state leaders gathered Wednesday to discuss the most distracting device in the classroom, the cellphone, and how taking it away could help the overall well-being of students.

What You Need To Know

  • Ohio educators gathered with Gov. DeWine and Lt. Gov. Husted to discuss banning cellphones from school

  • Educators shared their cellphone policies and how banning cellphones has created a better learning environment for their schools

  • Northmont Middle School Principal Holli Gover, said banning cellphones at her school resulted in a positive change for her students' mental health and overall happiness 

“We’ve seen that success of students actually talking and engaging with each other,” said Principal of Northmont Middle School, Holli Gover. 

Holli Gover has come up with a way to keep cellphones out of the classroom at her school in Northmont. The principal recently enacted a ban that requires students to keep phones in their backpacks and turned off for the entire school day. The results have been obvious; she said.

“Negative scenarios during the school day are not recorded because they don’t have access to their phones,” said Gover. “And just the overall well-being and happiness of our students because they are not consumed from the moment they enter until they leave about what’s going on on social media.”

Gover joined educators from across the state along with Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and top education officials to discuss the future of cellphones in schools.

“They need a place at least for several hours a day, to go and be students and have social interactions,” said Lt. Gov. Jon Husted. 

The biggest pushback to the idea is the impact it would have in emergency situations. Students have said they are fearful of being without a phone when they need to let someone know they are in trouble. But studies show phones in the classroom can lead to an increase in cyberbullying, academic dishonesty and mental health problems. 

“You know, we had, I think, some very good conversation we heard from. We purposely put together schools that had already implemented some policy in this area to see exactly how this would work. And I think the consensus is it works,” said Gov. Mike DeWine. 

DeWine said the trick is trying to find the right way to enact the rules, knowing that each school district is different, and that there is not necessarily a one-size-fits-all policy that works everywhere. On the other hand, he does not want to put the burden on Ohio’s teachers.

“It’s very difficult for an individual teacher to make a decision to ban cellphones in her or his classroom. I think it’s much better if it is made available at the building level and possibly at the district level as well,” said DeWine. 

As for Gover and her colleagues who already have a ban in place, they say they have noticed a decline in bullying and fights, along with more interaction in the lunchroom. They said there’s been very little pushback so far.