Starting this school year, Tennessee High School is limiting phone use during the school day. The issue of cell phone use in classrooms has been widely discussed in the area.
News 5 interviewed the school’s principal, Kim Kirk, who hopes the policy will make students more engaged and feel safer at school.
“Kids can start talking to each other again instead of just using their phones. Some parents say their children don’t have anyone to talk to, but I think the phones are part of the problem because students choose them over people,” Kirk said.
She acknowledges that some might question the policy but wants everyone to understand the reasons behind it.
“I want students to speak up about things, so I encourage them to talk to teachers and understand why we’re doing this. It’s not just ‘because I said so.’ Even if we disagree, at least they’ll know why we’re making these changes, and we can have a conversation about it,” Kirk explained.
Dr. Rachel Miller-Slough, a clinical psychologist who focuses on adolescent mental health, says phone use can have both positive and negative effects on teens.
“Especially in the early developmental stages, there’s a lot of brain development happening, particularly in the frontal lobe. This part of the brain helps process complex information, regulate emotions, and control impulses. So, when kids have early access to phones, it’s important to guide their usage,” she said.
Miller-Slough suggests that parents can help by talking with their teens about how to use phones in a way that supports their well-being.
“Parents can support their teens’ emotional and mental health by discussing how to use phones wisely, checking in on how they’re feeling while using them, and monitoring how much time they spend on them,” she said.
Tennessee High School will have its first full day back after summer break on Tuesday, Aug. 6.