Proponents argue that the bans are essential to promoting academic achievement and overall well-being among students. Cell phone ownership has more than doubled among school-aged youth in the past decade. At the same time, rates of anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and cyberbullying have skyrocketed. And 72 percent of high school teachers say phone distractions are a major problem in their classrooms, according to Pew Research Center polling from June 2024.
Twm OwenLocal Democracy Reporting Service Getty Images A councillor has blamed parents who work from home for continued poor attendance at Welsh schools. Monmouthshire councillor Martyn Groucutt, said school attendance had not recovered to pre-pandemic levels. "Since the pandemic too many families have stopped sending their children to school regularly." The annual report from Monmouthshire County Council's director of education for 2024/25 said overall attendance had "improved".
