When it comes to discussing cell phones and youth mental health, students at Mountlake Terrace High School have a lot to say. On a recent overcast Tuesday morning, hands sprung up so quickly across the well-lit classroom that humanities teacher Erin Grambush struggled to pick the next speaker.
That wasn’t always the case. Before the Edmonds School District strengthened enforcement of its classroom cell phone ban this year, the devices pervaded the school, stealing student attention and stirring social anxieties. High schoolers scrolled through group chats under their desks, or played Tetris-like games while teachers lectured. The smartphones’ constant presence had a sobering effect on classroom dynamics, with some students reluctant to speak, fearful of being recorded and potentially mocked on a mobile platform.
While the district’s policy shift aims to improve classroom engagement and attention, educators are convinced the constant screens also undermined student well-being.
