Bend state Rep. Levy holds virtual forum to discuss technology in Bend-La Pine Schools

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- As the conversation around the use of technology in schools heats up in Bend-La Pine and elsewhere, state Rep. Emerson Levy of Bend held a virtual forum Monday night to discuss how cellphones and other technologies impact students, staff, teachers, and caregivers in and out of the classroom.

Educators are leveraging digital tools to enhance learning experiences and prepare students for the digital future.

However, advocates within Bend-La Pine schools believe increased cellphone and social media usage contribute to depression, loneliness and isolation, and may serve as more of a distraction than a learning tool.

In fact the U.S. Surgeon General is beginning a push for a tobacco style warning on social media.

From Monday night’s forum, our state officials are leaning toward removing cellphones from classrooms.

Holding tech giants accountable is also being discussed.

“I, along with 33 other states with both Republican and Democratic attorney generals, filed a federal lawsuit against Meta, alleging the parent company of Facebook and Instagram knowingly designed the platforms to addict children and teenagers,” said Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum.

“The hallways are ten times louder than they were when phones were being whipped out in between classes, So I think I certainly feel as a pediatrician, as a parent, if we have to force and what I call embodied experiences versus virtual ones, let's do it,” said state Rep. Lisa Reynolds.

Levy said, “We believe that when we create a rule with student buy-in and with parent buy-in, that we can create an environment where if nobody has a phone in the classroom, then that's a lot easier to administer.”

What about parents who say they need to be able to get a hold of their kids while in the classroom for medical reasons or an emergency?

Reynolds said: “When there are family emergencies, we do have ways to communicate with our students.”

This is why our representatives say policies must be implemented from a district or state level.