Maine schools prepare for new ‘bell-to-bell’ cellphone ban

Maine has joined the growing list of states to prohibit cellphone use entirely for public-school students, requiring all schools to comply by Aug. 1.

“The new policy is a ‘bell-to-bell’ policy, meaning phones are allowed on school property but cannot be used at any point during the school day,” explained WGME, the Maine-based CBS and Fox affiliate.

“However, schools are required to make an exception for emergency situations.”

The state will provide more than $300,000 for schools to implement the ban, which was included in Gov. Janet Mills’ supplemental budget, according to the news outlet.

‘Creating certain neurocircuitry that is hard to undo’

The law comes as more states raise concerns over the increasing use of cellphones by youth.

“It is very dangerous, because we’re talking about people whose brains are not fully developed, and as it develops, it’s creating certain neurocircuitry that is hard to undo,” said Dr. Nadia Mendiola, medical director of pediatric inpatient services at Northern Light Acadia Hospital.

At the hospital, 60% of all depression-related cases are linked to cyberbullying, social media or other misuse of screen time, Mendiola told journalists.

“The more healthy habits we can form at school that can be reinforced at home, the better we are going to be not just as the individual and family but as a society,” she concluded.

As previously reported by The Lion, addictive use of social media and screens has been linked to mental health risks such as suicidal behaviors and ideation.

“Adolescence is a vulnerable period for addictive behaviors, and recent findings suggest that young adolescents are particularly susceptible to screen addiction,” said researchers from the Journal of the American Medical Association.

“These statistics highlight the need to study screen addiction and its specific health effects, as understanding these behaviors is crucial for addressing the risks they pose to adolescents’ well-being.”

While some Maryland high schools already have cellphone restrictions, they have previously allowed exceptions for use during lunch, WGME reported.

“Students follow (the policy), but when I go into the bathrooms, I see people using their phones,” it quoted one Portland high school student as saying.

‘Impossible to offer such personal enrichment’

Maryland, which is also considering a bell-to-bell cellphone ban at the state level, has faced similar challenges in coaxing students to make wise choices.

“Schools are to be centers of learning and social development, where our children learn how to connect and communicate effectively with one another, cultivate lasting friendships, and acquire the necessary skills to excel in today’s global economy,” said Maryland Del. Adrian Boafo, co-sponsor of the Maryland Phone Free Schools Act.

“Experience and data have shown that it is simply becoming impossible to offer such personal enrichment when students are glued to their phones all day.”