New Boston Superintendent Rethinking Ban On Student Cell Phone Use In Schools
BOSTON (CBS) -- The new Boston Public Schools superintendent says he's rethinking the system's blanket ban on students' use of digital devices.
"Cell phones must remain off and hidden during school," the current policy reads.
Superintendent Tommy Chang tells WBZ NewsRadio 1030 that more flexibility may be needed to prepare students for the modern workforce.
"If we don't teach them how to be responsible digital citizens, they're going to enter work and life not being prepared to use that device with the most responsibility," Chang said.
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Chang said he's looking to have a discussion with parents and other policy makers about how smartphones might be able to help students learn.
"That's a very powerful device that is in their hands," he said. "We could withhold that from them during school hours, or we could build within students the capacity to make smart and intelligent decisions."
Technology is a big part of today's world and kids need to be taught how to use it correctly, Chang says.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karen Twomey reports: