Why School Safety Experts Want Phone Bans

In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Delaney dives into a question that sparks debate among educators, parents, and safety experts: Is it safer for students to have their phones during a school lockdown, or could it do more harm than good? To tackle this complex topic, Dr. Ruston speaks with a school superintendent, two police officers, and Clayton Cranford, a retired school resource officer and founder of Total Safety Solutions. Cranford, who works with schools across the country to improve safety protocols, brings a wealth of real-world experience to the conversation. Our guests describe scenarios where misinformation and panic have escalated in lockdown situations due to student cell phone use—and how this has, at times, interfered with emergency response efforts. Together, the guests unpack the pros and cons of current phone policies and offer practical recommendations to strike the right balance between connectivity and safety. To learn about 'Away for the Day', the Screenagers campaign to get phones and smartwatches out of schools visit AwayForTheDay.org   Featured Expert  Clayton Cranford   Resources Away for the Day Common Pushbacks Total Safety Solutions, LLC   Time Code 00:00 Introduction to Screenagers Podcast 00:50 The Case for Phone-Free Schools 01:45 School Safety Concerns and Phone Policies 02:17 Interviews with Experts on School Safety 03:15 Real-Life Incidents and Lessons Learned 05:10 Expert Opinions on Phone Policies 05:25 Challenges Faced by School Administrators 06:38 Understanding Swatting Incidents 09:37 Interview with Clayton Cranford 10:07 Best Practices for School Safety 14:01 The Impact of Phones on School Safety 19:40 Conclusion and Resources