Don’t take their phones — total technology bans are not right for our Colorado high school students
Don’t take their phones — total technology bans are not right for our Colorado high school students
https://www.denverpost.com/2026/05/06/let-students-keep-their-phones-tech/
Publish Date: 2026-05-06 07:11:00
Source Domain: www.denverpost.com
Total technology bans are not right for our high schools
Re: “School cellphone policies are being decided right now — with or without you,” April 26 commentary, and “DPS panel advocates phone ban in schools,” April 17 news story
Cellphones are a fact of life in our technologically sophisticated world, and public schools are responsible for teaching 21st-century skills to our youth. A total ban on cellular technology leaves our teens unprepared for the reality of career and life after graduation.
Just as “abstinence only” education doesn’t prevent teen pregnancy, complete technology bans do not foster responsible cellphone use or the self-direction required of emerging adults. Many of these young adults hold jobs, drive cars, and vote in presidential elections. They are responsible cashiers, lifeguards and babysitters. They can be drafted to serve our country in a time of war, and I think we can trust them to text friends to find a lunch meet-up or use their phone to buy lunch during the weekday.
With a total cellphone ban, I wouldn’t have gotten the “I’m OK, Mom” texts after multiple school shootings and SWAT incidents, hours before any Denver Public Schools notification arrived.
Today’s youth are growing up in a world infinitely different from the one I grew up in. The responsible and appropriate use of cellphone technology should have a scaffolded approach consistent with other learning and technology objectives. Just as the educational needs and expectations of a second grader vastly differ from those of a 12th grader and the cellphone policy should be too. Please don’t completely ban phones and watches in our high schools!
Joanne Scarbeary, Denver
Vote no on SB 135 and tell legislators to ‘live within their means’
Re: “SB 135 allows us to give our kids the education they deserve,” April 26 commentary
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