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Parents, teachers and experts press Ann Arbor board for districtwide bell-to-bell phone ban
Summary
Dozens of parents, teachers and researchers urged the Ann Arbor Public Schools board to adopt a bell-to-bell phone-free policy with secure device storage, citing classroom distraction, mental-health concerns and local pilot results; the board referred the petition to committee for further consideration.
Dozens of parents, teachers and researchers told the Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education on Nov. 5 that the district should adopt a bell-to-bell phone-free policy with secure centralized device storage.
Public commenters across 11 speakers said smartphones disrupt classroom learning and contribute to anxiety and social harms. "Phones distract our teens even when they are in a backpack or a cubby," said Dee Lamphere, a parent and former high-school teacher, who urged a policy that includes secure storage rather than teacher‑policed cubbies. Several speakers cited research and local pilot results, and asked the board to fund implementation.
Why it matters: Supporters said a…
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