© Mark Ollig
Those who went to high school with me will recall the only telephone we had access to was the payphone on the wall next to the trophy case.
In today’s school environment, technology is integrated into the learning curriculum. Students use their smartphones to access the internet and the web, research subjects, and connect with family, friends, and social media.
The first commercial 1G cellular telephone network was activated in Chicago on Oct. 13, 1983.
The first commercially available handheld mobile cellular phone used on this network was the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, often referred to as “The Brick.”
The Oxford English Dictionary states that “cellphone” was first used as a single, unhyphenated word in the magazine Cellular Business on Nov. 24, 1984.
Over the past 40 years, the cellphone has evolved far beyond its original purpose as a calling device into a powerful smartphone packed with cutting-edge technology and features.
However, we still call it a “cellphone,” as the term is commonly used and understood in everyday conversation.
As a retired telephone guy, one comparable analogy is touchtone and rotary dial telephones.
Although touchtone pushbutton phones have replaced rotary dial telephones, we still say “dial the phone number,” not “push the buttons of the phone number.”
Come to think about it, we also say, “Call the number.”
In 1997, the term “smartphone” was used to describe the Ericsson GS88, a prototype cellular mobile phone developed in Sweden that included a monochrome touchscreen, stylus pen, keyboard, email, text messaging, web browsing, and computer connectivity.
Although approximately 200 GS88s were manufactured, none were ever sold to the public.
For today’s column, I will sometimes use “cellphone” as a general term to encompass both basic cellphone and smartphone technologies.
Students do use cellphones for study and research while in school; however, concerns about their distractions and misuse in the classroom have led to certain restrictions being put in place.
Some people view having a cellphone in the classroom as a temptation to get the answers for tests and quizzes.
There is also concern about recording audio or taking photos and videos of students and teachers without their consent.
In May 2023, the Governor of Florida signed House Bill 379 into law, which became effective July 1, 2023. This bill restricted the use of cellphones in classrooms during school hours and regulated students’ use of social media on school Wi-Fi networks.
Section 1006.07 of the Florida Statutes requires that school districts’ codes of student conduct prohibit student use of wireless communication devices during class time.
The Florida Statute allows teachers to establish classroom rules of conduct, which could include collecting cellphones before class or confiscating them if students use them during class.
Section 3 of House Bill 379 states: “Prohibit and prevent students from accessing social media platforms through the use of Internet access provided by the school district, except when expressly directed by a teacher solely for educational purposes.”
In California, Assembly Bill 4216 is slated to take effect on July 1, 2026. It requires school districts to establish and periodically revise policies regarding the restricting or prohibiting of students from using smartphones while at school.
Minnesota enacted Statute 121A.73, also known as the “School Cell Phone Policy,” during its 2024 legislative session. It went into effect on May 18, 2024.
Subdivision 1 of this statute requests the Minnesota School Boards Association to develop a model policy addressing the possession and use of cellphones in schools by Dec. 15, 2024.
Subdivision 2 decrees that Minnesota school districts and charter schools adopt their policies regarding cellphone possession and use in school by March 15, 2025.
Statute 121A.73 requires these policies to be included in the student handbook and readily available on the district or charter school website.
Other states, including Virginia, Louisiana, and Georgia, have also introduced legislation restricting cellphone use during school hours.
Studies have shown a strong linkage between young people’s hours of online social media and gaming using smartphones and other devices with compulsive “screen time immersion,” an addiction seen as a serious problem among the youth of today.
By restricting phone use during class, it is hoped that students will direct their attention to the subjects being taught and participate more fully in classroom activities.
A recent Pew Research Center survey revealed that over 95% of teenagers have access to smartphones, and 54% admit that giving up social media would be challenging.
Pew also reported that 72% of U.S. high school teachers say cellphone distraction is a significant problem in the classroom.
Back in the mid-70s, when I was in high school, you’d often see me walking the hallways and into classrooms with my Panasonic portable radio held in one hand and a stack of textbooks tucked under my arm.
During breaks in classroom instruction, my radio sometimes played the top hits from stations like WDGY and KDWB, filling the room with music, much to the appreciation of the other students, and at times triggering a raised eyebrow from the teacher.
Back then, if I had wanted to bring my phone into a classroom, it would have been attached to a mile-long telephone cord from my house.
Of course, we did have the payphone.
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| A picture from the 1975 Winsted Holy Trinity Yearbook shows a classmate was talking on the payphone next to the trophy case. |