Dialing Down Distractions

My cartoon for The Hamilton County Reporter

“We love our own cell phones, but we hate everyone else’s - Joe Bob Briggs

Last month the Indiana Senate voted 36-12 to approve a bill that would ban cell phones in K-12 classrooms throughout the state. This past week Governor Mike Braun signed the bill. This is a good thing!

In addition to cell phones, the bill also includes restrictions on smartwatches and other electronic devices. There will be a few exceptions for students that require their phones for medical monitoring or language translation.

Even though I did this cartoon based upon the passage of the bill this is not unique to just Indiana. Various states across the country have passed similar legislation and others are currently exploring their options.

I recently read an article written by a teacher that was very much in favor banning cell phones in the classroom. She explained that the student’s cell phones had gone from being a distraction to something of an addiction and that it had become a battle between her and screen time. The students had become lost and disengaged from each other because of the technology. With the removal of the cell phones the students are now conversing with one another, learning more social skills and reading actual books. There is less online bullying and social pressure that these devices can create. Test scores have risen and the students are more focused on the teacher and the lessons. All good things.

There are a few things that will need to be worked out before the next school year. Options will be discussed such as the student’s phones being placed in lockers or special containers/bags during class time. There are also those times when a parent or student absolutely needs to communicate with each other and the schools will need to provide devices to accommodate these moments. Since it’s still early March there’s plenty of time for teachers and administrators across the state to figure out solutions before the first bell rings at the end of summer break.

Sketches & sketchy stuff…

This past week I was reading up about all of the bill that had been signed by the Governor and I was very much interested by the cell phone ban bill (SB 78). Like a lot of people I rely on having my device throughout the day and feel almost naked without it. This legislation is going to similarly affect a lot of people and I wanted to comment on it.

One of the passages that caught my eye was a teacher explaining that the cell phone ban in her school allowed her to “Reclaim” the students and the knowledge that test scores significantly improved because of the ban. I taught courses in Design Principles, Color Theory and Life Drawing as an adjunct professor for 7 years so I know what it’s like to have students engaged and not engaged. The word Reclaim pushed me to the idea of the three R’s. From there it was easy to describe the new legislation as Reducing, Restricting and Removing cell phones as the three R’s for improving test scores.

A simple generic educator and blackboard was all I needed for the idea cartoon to come together. I typically draw these generic characters with glasses. It seems to give them less of a personality and emotion. This allows them to be less important visually and act as a vehicle to communicate the message.

The sketch didn’t really change too much from drawing to drawing. I did turn the character a little more front-facing, but there wasn’t any real artistic rationale behind it. I just liked it better.

Final drawing…

If you chose to help support me out by becoming a paid subscriber you can have the signed original drawing of this cartoon (or any other you chose) along with a signed color print.