Some Lexington County locals are optimistic about South Carolina's new cell phone policy, which prohibits the use of personal electronic devices during the school day. This includes cell phones, headphones and anything that can connect to Wi-Fi or can capture pictures and videos.
The new policy will foster better focus and more meaningful social interactions, some say.
Jessica Erwin, a local parent with substitute teaching experience, told the Chronicle that she believes this new cell phone policy will be successful. Erwin said that students will concentrate better in the classroom without having their phones on. They may have more meaningful social interactions with other students, as well, she said.
Chronicle reader Laurie Lyons supports the new policy, mentioning that there should be strict consequences for students using their phones in the classroom.

"If there were those consequences in the first place, this law wouldn’t be here now," Lyons said.
Lynn Bogart, another reader, said “hallelujah” in response to the new policy.
While the general sentiment towards the policy appears positive, some believe certain restrictions in the policy may be excessive.
Beyond not being able to use cell phones in the classroom, students are also prohibited from using their phones during transitions between classes, in the hallways, bathrooms and during lunch.
Erwin said students should be able to check their phones and use it when it is on their time, outside of the classroom. Erwin noted that most kids rely on their phones to take pictures and make memories to look back on.
Similarly, Lyons raised the concern of not being able to use headphones or cell phones during free periods. Lyons said that this is a form of government overreach, however, her high schooler seems to be adjusting to the policy.
To gain more insight, the S.C. Department of Education conducted a survey between May and June of last year asking educators across the state about their experiences with cell phone use. Nearly 10,000 teachers participated in the survey, revealing a trend: 56% reported daily disruptions in most or all their classes due to cell phones, especially in high school.
When asked about the effectiveness of existing policies in past years, 32% of teachers said their schools had tried implementing a policy that was not successful. Meanwhile, 28% of respondents felt their school already had an effective policy in place.
30% of teachers reported that less than 30 minutes of their daily instructional time was lost due to cell phone use or related distractions. 55% of teachers reported that an effective cell phone policy should completely prevent cell phone access during the entire school day while 37% responded and said there should be limited access in the classrooms and permitted cell phone access in between classes and during lunch.
Looking ahead, the Department of Education plans to survey teachers and administrators again to track the policy’s impact and make adjustments where needed. The goal is to create an environment where students can focus on learning without the constant distractions of their phones.