Georgia Schools Say Goodbye to Phones, Hello to Better Grades

Georgia is making a big move to keep phones out of elementary and middle schools. Starting next year, all public schools in these grades will have to lock up phones and other gadgets. This isn't new for many schools, but now it's the law. Teachers love this idea. A big survey showed that 92% of them want the phone ban to spread to high schools too. They say phones are a big distraction. Students get interrupted a lot, and it's hard to focus. Without phones, kids behave better and talk to each other more. Some schools even saw grades go up. Lakeside High School in DeKalb County tried a phone ban and saw big changes. The principal, Susan Stoddard, said kids were happier and more social. Before the ban, phones were buzzing every few minutes, causing lots of interruptions. After the ban, students interacted more and had more fun. Marietta City Schools also banned phones in middle school. The superintendent, Grant Rivera, said teachers and students loved it. Students reported better behavior in class. Rivera wants to extend the ban to high school but says parents are not on board yet. Some people worry about safety. What if there's an emergency? Police say phones can make things worse by distracting students. Principals like Stoddard explain that in drills, students learn to stay quiet. A phone notification could draw attention in a bad way. Lawmakers are thinking about extending the ban to high schools. Some want to wait and see how middle schoolers adjust first. Others, like Senator Sally Harrell, want to act fast. They're looking at how phones and social media affect kids and want to do something about it.