These kids are still required to have a programmable graphing calculator in high school, right? Those things, today, are basically phones without the cellular circuitry. Some have Wi-Fi, and those that don't, have enough I/O to be capable of an IR-based classroom LAN.

When our kids learned about substance abuse, they talk about teenage brains being in a critical period. If they get addicted to a substance, while their brain is developing, the addiction runs deeper than if they were an adult. It's a much bigger challenge to break free of the addiction.

I like this, phones have become too severe of a distraction throughout the school day, especially in lessons. I don't mind if students have their phone at lunchtime, or outside of the academic time, but allowing them to have their phones in class has just been ruinous.

When I was in school, way back in the Before Times, when cell phones were expensive and smartphones were in their infancy, cards or dice would get confiscated and held until the end of the day if the administration suspected they could be used for even simulating gambling.

Maybe we’ll get back to an era where people connected & form friendships and bonds in a non digital way. Like the video below.

https://youtube.com/shorts/CUfwcIVq6H0?feature=shared

> Alia Soliman, a senior at Bronx Science, said cards “are making a big comeback.” She said kids are playing poker when they’re done with their work in some classes. Fellow students reported a surge in Uno.

In my day in the US midwest, it was Euchre.

Somebody should introduce these kids to Meshtastic. The Lily T-Deck series features a built-in keyboard and screen, eliminating the need for a phone. I'm sure someone bright could put a repeater up in a place administrators would never find to cover the entire school.

Sounds delightful. Now do it for adults.

- an adult phone addict

Further to the truism that constraining and micromanaging kids have driven up smartphone use: adults do this to themselves too, particularly parents. Watching kids can be fun, but then again, it can be incredibly boring most of the time. You're not going to constantly ask banal questions; kids will often be creative on their own. But as a parent, you're compelled to hover. And hover. And do nothing.

Probably having more of a "village" to help (grandparents especially) would relieve pressure. Also, multiple kids will engage with each other more instead of looking to parents for all social stimulation as only-children.

I am all for phone bans in schools, but if the alternative is forcing them to use googleshit, and agree to googleshit terms of service, also hard pass.

I would insist any kid of mine be allowed to use open source tools that can be studied and improved, or nothing at all.