Tennessee Bill Aims to Reduce Classroom Cell Phone Distractions

Issue #288

02 Dec

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

☁️ Columbia Weather - Cloudy with a high of 43 / low of 24

📰 Tennessee Bill Aims to Reduce Classroom Cell Phone Distractions

📰 Driver Services Center to Close Temporarily

😇 Take Advantage of VidAngel’s Biggest Sale of the Year! (LAST DAY)

🛍 Snag These Awesome Cyber Monday Deals!

👉 Check Out The Ultimate Guide to Holiday Fun in Maury County & More Here

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

⛑ Looking For Ways to Help Victims of Hurricane Helene? Click Here

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Tuesday, December 3rd

Wednesday, December 4th

Thursday, December 5th

Friday, December 6th

Saturday, December 7th

Sunday, December 8th

Tennessee Bill Aims to Reduce Classroom Cell Phone Distractions

Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, introduced House Bill 13 last week, aimed at reducing student cell phone usage in classrooms across Tennessee to promote attentiveness and enhance learning environments. The bill mandates that local boards of education and public charter school governing bodies establish policies prohibiting cell phone use during instructional time, with exceptions for specific educational and emergency purposes.

The legislation seeks to foster student engagement and minimize distractions that impede learning and teaching effectiveness. Provisions within the bill allow the use of cell phones for teacher-approved educational purposes, emergencies, health management, or to accommodate students with disabilities. Non-compliance may result in teachers being authorized to withhold devices from students.

Cepicky's office cited studies indicating that classroom cell phone use is a significant distraction, with over 70% of American high school teachers acknowledging it as a major issue, according to Pew Research Center. Research also suggests that restrictions on cell phone usage can lead to improved academic performance, particularly among students who struggle academically.

The Tennessee Department of Education’s most recent TCAP results showed that only 40% of students statewide met grade-level expectations in English Language Arts and math, with science and social studies proficiency showing minimal gains. In Maury County, student proficiency in grades 3-5 reached 31% in English Language Arts and 33.2% in math, reflecting slight improvements over the previous year. However, the district achieved a record-breaking 92% overall graduation rate for the 2023-2024 academic year, aligning with the state average.

Currently, at least eight states in the U.S. have enacted restrictions on cell phones in schools. The proposed legislation aligns with national trends to address classroom distractions and improve student outcomes. The 114th Tennessee General Assembly will begin discussions on the bill when it convenes on Jan. 14, 2025.

Driver Services Center to Close Temporarily

The Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s Columbia Driver Services Center, 1701 Hampshire Pike, will close on Thursday, Dec. 5 and will reopen Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, for carpet replacement.

During the closure, citizens can visit a nearby Driver Services Center, county clerk partner, self-service kiosk, or utilize online services at tn.gov/safety/driver-services/online.html.

(Sponsor)

Take Advantage of VidAngel’s Biggest Sale of the Year! *LAST DAY*

Filter the stuff that you don't like from some of the most popular movies & TV series.

Shows can be so much better without the bad stuff...

VidAngel 😇 allows you to skip things like:

❌ Bad Language
❌ Nudity
❌ Violence/Gore
❌ Alcohol Drugs

Sign up today and 𝗚𝗘𝗧 50% OFF 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 6 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗛𝗦!

👉 Use code “DEEPER” at checkout

Snag These Awesome Cyber Monday Deals!

Now’s the time to get some of the best mark-downs of the year on Amazon! Here’s some of the deals we found: 

*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Tuesday, December 3rd

Rob Harris, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM

Wednesday, December 4th

Ivey Campbell, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM

Thursday, December 5th

Austin Byrd, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM
Todd Ciprian, Tito's Mexican Grill, 6-9 PM

Friday, December 6th

Scott Southworth & The Honky Tonk Anonymous Band, Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM

Saturday, December 7th

TBD, Natchez Hills Vineyard, 4-7 PM
Karli & James, Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
World Turning Band, The Mulehouse, 8 PM

Sunday, December 8th

TBD, Natchez Hills Vineyard1-4 PM
County Community Band, Cherry Theater - CSCC, 3 PM
Still Rollin’, The Rebel, 4 PM
Jay Hoppus, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

Want to get your business in What’s Up Columbia? Let’s talk