Texas should be second state to ban phones in schools

Abby McCloskey, Dallas Morning News, July 5, 2024

“Consider the $82 billion asked for in the 2025 Department of Education Budget. With 50 million public school students across the nation, at $30 a pouch (and come on, it’s the federal government, so let’s get it down to $10), well that’s $500 million out of $82 billion — less than 1% of the budget.

Put it another way: Each year of public school costs around $10,000 per student. Hold that up against a $30 investment that could profoundly change academic, social and behavioral outcomes for students.

At the state level, Texas should ban devices on school campuses. It’s literally free; just don’t allow them. That’s what France does. That’s what several big private schools do here in Dallas. No sliding scale $5 punishments. First offense is parent pickup. The next offense, the device is taken away for keeps.

Newsom is getting pushback. The biggest, best I can tell, is from parents concerned with what to do about children in an emergency . . . “