Resisting Our Temptation to Ban All Phones

My View

Across the country, schools are wrestling with a heated question: Should student cellphones be banned altogether or permitted freely during the school day?

At Garnet Valley School District in suburban Philadelphia, we concluded both extremes fall short. Our role is not to confiscate technology nor to surrender to it but rather to prepare students for a world where devices are constant companions. That means teaching balance.

This conviction led to Screen Smart GV, our districtwide effort to help students, families and school staff practice digital discipline. Rather than demonize devices, we framed them as tools to be mastered. The difference has been transformative.

Beyond ‘All’ or ‘None’