In the State of Indiana they have recently passed Law SB 78, in other words a "bell to bell" cellphone/device ban. This prohibits the use of any cellular device including phones, tablets, non-school issued computers, etc during school hours. Previously, this law was reasonable, it prohibited the use of personal devices during instructional time unless permitted by a teacher. This allowed for the use of them during passing period, lunch and any other non-instructional times throughout the day. Banning the complete use of devices is not only a safety issue, but it will increase the amount of pressure on teachers and staff to discipline students. 

Imagine yourself at work, a long 8 hour day, starting bright and early. You do your tasks, make the calls, do the work when you've finally reached your one break of the day... lunch. It's your to relax and enjoy a favorite show, a phone call to a friend or relative, or maybe to play a mobile game. Whatever you're doing, it's time to reset, refocus and restart so that you can finish the rest of your day efficiently. Keep in mind most schools have a 30-45 minute lunch break, plenty of time to eat lunch while finding some source of entertainment or relief. How could we not allow children, with their frontal lobes not even fully developed absolutely zero time to truly get a break. Take into account the students that sit alone during lunch, their phone could be the only outlet to connecting socially during the school day. This also applies to passing periods, they are usually 5-10 minutes long depending on the size of the school and allow for restroom breaks, emergency texts and a lot of times clarification for after school transportation. Practice is cancelled? Ride couldn't make it last minute? Regardless, there'd be no chance for communication to a child's guardian or vice versa without phone use. 

If we consider teachers, we can all agree their job is hard enough. Student's will be resistant to give up their phone to the school. It causes disruptions before class begins that a lot of times carry into class and create animosity between the student and teacher, inevitably leading to poor class participation, grades and behavior. Teachers don't deserve another thing to watch out for. 

By no means, does this petition directly support the use of phones during instructional time. Education is very important and the original law passed has been effective for many if not all schools. All we are asking is for a reasonable law that ensures student and teacher mental health, while also furthering student education as it has before the new law adjustment was proposed. Now, I'm asking you to take all these points into account and consider signing this petition for the betterment of education.