SJSD aims to boost focus, cuts cell phones from classrooms
Praji Ghosh
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph School District rolled out a new rule in 2025 — no cell phones in the classroom.
The district has implemented the rule following the Missouri legislature’s passing of Senate Bill 68, which prohibits the use of cell phones during school hours, to increase learning.
The legislation also aims to cut down on distractions from technology and get students to interact with each other more.
After the first day of school on Tuesday, Aug. 19, one staff member at Benton High School said she was glad to see how well students responded to the change.
“We’ve had a really positive response from both students and staff,” said Molly Ring, a visual arts teacher at Benton. “And our students have been doing a wonderful job in respecting that policy.”
Ring explained that while the school has always had some type of cell phone policy, SB 68 helped make the rules more consistent.
She believes the change will ultimately help students stay more focused in class.
“I would say it was a major distraction for students. We know how prolific cell phone use is in our current time period, especially for youth,” Ring said.
Not every student was thrilled about the new rules at first. Senior Eliana Arambula admitted the adjustment hasn’t been easy.
“I mean, yes, it is an adjustment, but I think it’s very good for us. There were times when it did get tough, but overall it wasn’t as bad as last year,” said Arambula.
Arambula admitted, the policy has encouraged students to connect more with their peers and has taken pressure off teachers.
“The first week coming back from the summers, where you can use your phone anytime you want, was an adjustment, but we’ve been doing pretty good about it, so overall it’s been positive,” Arambula said.
Despite the challenges, staff say they’re continuing to work with students to make the transition smoother and support them through the change.