How should schools handle cell phones? North Texas districts addressing issue in different ways [Video]

Students and cell phones are a combination that’s increasingly become a hang-up at local school districts.

Teachers say phone use takes away time for learning and causes distractions. Evidence is growing about other problems.

“What we know is if they have their cell phone in school they’re just going to have more screen time throughout the day. And what we see from a psychological perspective is that the more screen time kids have, the more we see things like depression, poor self-image, they’re being impacted by the things they see online,” said Jasmine Ghannadpour, Pediatric Psychologist at Children’s Health and Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern.

Those aren’t the only issues.

“They are using them for meet ups in the bathroom to do drug deals. It is a reality. To sell vapes, laced with THC. They use cell phones for bullying and harassment, and take videos in compromising positions,” said Keller ISD superintendent Tracy Johnson at a recent meeting.

Many districts have taken different approaches …