Inside Voices: Utahns share why cellphones should — or shouldn’t — be banned in schools

Happy Saturday, and welcome to Inside Voices, a weekly newsletter that features a collection of ideas, perspectives and solutions from across Utah — without any of the vitriol or yelling that’s become all too common on other platforms. Subscribe here.

As Utah lawmakers consider a proposed ban on cellphones in schools, I wanted to hear from those impacted. Reading through your responses, there are two major concerns that divide Utahns.

Those in favor of the proposed ban worry about distractions at school. Those opposed fear for student safety. Here’s what you had to say.

It’s a matter of distraction.

• “As an educator, it is a huge distraction. Parents need to be aware that their children are not accessible during class.” — Suzanne, Logan

• “Kids shouldn’t be glued to their phones all day, and it creates distractions and learning loss. It also can stir up drama as kids plan to skip together, or worse, cyberbully and plan fights.” — Taylor, Salt Lake City

• “Young people need more opportunities to build social skills in class and lunch and in between, and asynchronous messaging without eye contact or body language does not help!” — Kenwyn, Bountiful

It’s a matter of safety.

• “Until there are appropriate gun regulation laws put into place, I believe it’s absolutely inhumane and a terrifying thought for families and children to not have a direct line of communication.” — Josie, Payson

• “The biggest threat to my child’s safety and well being is not a phone. Pretending that it is shows how out of touch the Legislature is.” — Katie, North Logan

• “Our kids are less safe going to school than ever before. I get it, kids can be distracted, but that’s a parenting issue.” — Mistie, Holladay

Carrie Schwartz, a Park City-based interior designer who is passionate about public policy, wrote in an op-ed published this week that ”from a parental perspective, smartphones in the hands of teens are scary. But from a child’s perspective, guns in the hands of teens are infinitely more scary.” Read her full op-ed.

Do you think there’s a possible balance between concerns over distraction and safety? What would that look like? Let me know.

Utah Voices

The following excerpts come from op-eds recently published in The Tribune.

🏥 Gun safety

• “If our leaders truly saw the devastation a bullet inflicts on the human body and the lasting scars it leaves on victims’ lives, our laws would reflect measures to prevent these tragedies,” writes Jaden Christensen, a ER nurse in Salt Lake City. Read more.

📚 Banned books

• “In a home where opportunities felt limited, books opened doors to possibilities I hadn’t known existed, allowing me to dream beyond the confines of my circumstances,” writes Cal Crosby, a co-owner of The King’s English Bookshop. Read more.

• “Like most Americans, we believe that it is ultimately parents — not politicians — who are best positioned to set boundaries with their children regarding reading,” write Peter Bromberg, Christina Allen and Paisley Rekdal of Let Utah Read. Read more.

🚵‍♂️ Public trails

• “The Colorado Trail, an iconic 567-mile high-elevation trail that crosses the Rockies, owes its existence largely to Gudy Gaskill, a charismatic, six-foot-tall woman who could make tough things seem easy,” writes Dave Marston of Writers on the Range. Read more.

Share Your Perspective

Are you a voter between the ages of 18 and 30? Let me know what matters most to you.

And join us on Tuesday, Oct. 15 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for food, a drink or two and a meaningful conversation with folks your age. RSVP here!

From Bagley’s Desk

I’m always looking for unique perspectives, ideas and solutions that move our state forward. Learn more about our guidelines for an op-ed, guest essay, letter to the editor and more here, and drop me a note at voices@sltrib.com.