By Stephen Smoot
Last week in Harrison County, Governor Patrick Morrissey stood behind a podium set up for the occasion at Lincoln Middle School in Shinnston.
Beside the Governor stood a group of middle school children representing different grades. He took the time to introduce himself to each one, shaking their hands and saying “Hello, I’m Patrick.”
They stood beside him as he opened his remarks. He turned to his right and said “I’m not sure I’ll be that popular with you guys when I’m done here, but let’s see how that goes.
He told the children and other attendees that “we do have to focus on how we can ensure that schools have the best possible environment in which to learn.”
“I don’t think we can accept the status quo,” Morrissey later said.
One of the bills that the Governor signed into law on this occasion was House Bill 2003. The bill opens by describing its purpose, which is that “Personal electronic devices contribute to a negative classroom environment with increased concerns relating to distractions, academic misconduct, bullying and/or harassment and other inappropriate behaviors.”
It goes on to state that “Concerns regarding the mental health of students with unfettered access to personal electronic devices are well-documented and are believed to prohibit the age-appropriate development of relationships, study skills, and other necessary skills to be successful.”
Governor Morrissey reiterated those stated concerns and added the study-based evidence that their use by young people can lead to addictive behaviors
County school boards will have the authority to ban the use of personal electronic devices in the classroom at their discretion. The legislation, however, mandates that school systems provide exemptions for students with both a disability and the need to access a personal electronic device and/or a work or skills program need to use them.
Additionally, school systems that ban them must provide a systematic discipline plan before implementing the policy.
Under the law, each county must pass a policy stating overtly whether the system is permitting or banning possession in classrooms.
The Governor also discussed SB 199, which gives teachers more power to remove disruptive students from their classroom. The bill includes the authority to exclude students temporarily who show symptoms of infectious diseases.
Schools may not, however, suspend students in the future for skipping class. The bill seems to recognize that is the goal of skipping – and also that many home environments do not punish children as often as in the past for school infractions.
The bill contains a number of other provisions as well.
