March 23rd,2024-DUBLIN, Ohio – By Taiwo AKINLAMI and Deba UWADIAE
“Cell phone use at school is affecting student’s education and mental health. “We just want every school in the state to take a hard, hard look at this,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine at a roundtable discussion with schools from across the state to discuss how their cellphone policies have created a better learning environment for students and how other Ohio schools could implement their own policies.
On Wednesday, March 13, 2024 in the educational heartland of Dublin, Ohio, an impactful assembly took place at the Dublin City Schools, Emerald Campus, drawing together a constellation of influential figures, including Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted and his wife Tina Husted, as well as key government leaders such as Director Stephen Dackin of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, and Director LeAnne Cornyn of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
This diverse group, encompassing both state leadership and dedicated educators, convened for a roundtable discussion that spanned nearly two hours, focusing on a pressing challenge at the intersection of education and technology: the pervasive influence of cellphones in schools, and the specific impacts of platforms like TikTok. The roundtable provided rich insights and personal anecdotes that underscore a collective endeavor spanning both professional realms and personal convictions.
Governor DeWine expressed the urgency and depth of the concern with clarity, stating, “Cell phone use at school is affecting student’s education and mental health. We just want every school in the state to take a hard, hard look at this.” His words resonate with a call to action, urging educational institutions across Ohio to reevaluate the role of technology within learning spaces.
