The other day at my neighborhood playground I saw a preteen sitting on a swing looking at their phone with the saddest expression. I didn’t know this child, and had my hands full with my three-year-old grandson (who was climbing, sliding, laughing, feeling so free) so I couldn’t approach to ask, “Hey, are you okay?” Jonathan Haidt, author of “The Anxious Generation,” uses the phrase “phone-based childhood.” Phone-based childhood. Think about that. This is the world we live in. Do we want to change it? Are we going to take control of technology, or at least some aspects of it?

The phone-free school movement is gaining momentum because there’s plentiful evidence that phone use negatively impacts our kids’ learning and mental health. If I were the parent of a current high school student, I’d favor a ban — for myself as well as them. Nationwide where bans are being considered, parents are often the biggest obstacle — “they want to be able to reach their kids and keep track of them,” according to an Axios story. Which is another layer of the issue for us to ponder. The need to make contact during an emergency is separate from other needs that may be playing out for us parents who are also often overly dependent on our phones. A ban could potentially be healthy and liberating for everyone. To help parents be the best possible partners during this process, the School Board could extend outreach to family members — not just a survey but facilitated workshops or open houses.

Since BVSD has had a no-cellphone policy in grades K—8 for five years, current high schoolers know what it feels like to put their phones away. Of course, high school is different from middle school; it’s when teens are in training to take more responsibility for their own behavior and choices before entering the adult world of work and college. Separating from phones could further this goal even if it seems like it might do the opposite. To that end, a ban should be accompanied by ongoing efforts to teach digital literacy. And I hope it’s already happening that the students themselves are being involved in coming up with creative solutions to implementation, exceptions, how to handle discipline, etc. so they own the policy and it’s not just being imposed upon them.

Diane Schwemm, parksidediane@gmail.com

I understand the desire to limit distractions. Cell phones, while ubiquitous, can easily pull students away from class discussions and learning activities. Even as an adult, I often struggle with the constant notifications, so one can imagine the challenge for teenagers who may not yet have the self-discipline to tune out.

Back when mobile devices were just starting to catch on, I remember being in high school and seeing teachers struggle with students getting distracted on their phones. If a student got caught, the teacher would confiscate it, and they’d have to go to the principal’s office to get it back at the end of the school day. The details are a bit fuzzy since I didn’t have a phone myself, but I remember the principal would call the parents, and there might even be academic repercussions. That was over 15 years ago, though, in a tiny class with 25 students in total — and only a handful even had phones. I can’t imagine trying to enforce that kind of policy on a massive scale at a place like Fairview High.

But this is America, and as soon as I read about the phone ban, my first thought was, “How would I contact my kid if there’s a school shooting?” My second thought was tougher to confront — how much I hope I’d even have that chance. My child started at Bear Creek this year, and I’ve put an Airtag in his backpack so I can keep track of him (and the backpack, since he keeps leaving it around). I know it might sound paranoid, but having that connection gives me a bit more peace of mind. My wife and I are pretty set on not giving him a phone until high school at the least, but we’ve considered an Apple Watch when he reaches middle school. We don’t own Apple Watches ourselves, but they seem a lot less distracting than a phone while still offering us that line of communication.

As BVSD moves forward, I think a bit of experimentation is warranted: ask the students to leave their phones secured in lockers, but allow other tech devices for emergencies. Teachers and administrators should have the authority to confiscate any device that disrupts learning, with clear policies for parents about when and why this happens, similar to how tardiness or absences are tracked. BVSD could also consider conducting trial periods of the policy, gathering feedback from students, parents and teachers to fine-tune its approach before a full rollout. While there’s no perfect solution, finding a middle ground could help students focus on learning while ensuring that parents stay connected. Hopefully, it will foster a learning environment where students can engage with their education while we, as parents, retain peace of mind.

Hernán Villanueva, chvillanuevap@gmail.com