We’re pretty sure that very few parents get good results from telling their children, “Do as I say, not as I do.” If Dad wants his son to wear a seatbelt, then Dad better wear one. If Mom doesn’t want her daughter to become a smoker, then Mom better quit.

Actions speak louder than words. With this saying in mind, we ask parents to take note of the new rules regarding cell phone use by students in Rochester Public Schools.

Simply put, elementary and middle school students who bring a phone to school are not allowed to use it during class time. Not during lunch. Not during recess. Not between classes.

High school students are allowed to use their cell phones during lunch and to “pass the time” between classes, but a student using a cell phone during class risks having their phone confiscated for the rest of the day. Parents will be notified for a second offense, and parents will be required to come to school to pick up the phone for a third offense.

We strongly support these new rules.

Elementary school students should not bring cell phones to school, and not just because they are expensive, distracting, and could be used inappropriately. There is simply no reason a third-grader should bring a cell phone to school. If parents’ plans for picking up their children after school change, or if an emergency occurs, school administrators and staff are there to receive and transmit messages.

Applying similar rules to middle schools may seem a bit draconian, but it’s hard enough for teachers to get sixth, seventh, and eighth graders to focus when they don’t have cell phones in their pockets. Plus, there’s enough drama in middle schools without kids using their phones to gossip and share gruesome photos of each other.

And as for high school students, well, we live in the real world and we admit that they might actually need a cell phone at some point during school. Things happen. Schedules change and texting is the preferred form of communication for today’s young people.

Nevertheless, there is increasing evidence that schools are doing their students a great service by forcing them to switch off their devices for a few hours each day.

Study after study has found a link between the proliferation of smartphones and social media and a decline in teenagers’ mental health. This trend has been observed for about twelve years, and not just in the United States. Around the world, children who spend a lot of time staring at a smartphone and/or tablet are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression and low self-esteem.

But the bad news doesn’t end there. It now seems possible – even likely – that constant use of mobile devices is affecting children’s ability to learn.

For more than 20 years, the Programme for International Student Assessment has examined trends in nearly 80 countries, focusing on the math, reading and science scores of 15-year-olds. Scores peaked worldwide between 2009 and 2012, but have declined since then – even in countries like Finland, which is known for its good schools and high-performing children.

While many potential factors are at play (including the COVID pandemic), PISA studies show that time spent on mobile phones at school is inversely correlated with student performance. Worse still, the mere presence of other students using mobile phones appears to have a negative impact on nearby students, even those who do not have or use a mobile phone at school.

The data does not yet allow for definitive conclusions, but we can say with some certainty that classrooms and mobile phones are not a good combination.

While some students may initially feel some discomfort (even separation anxiety) about having to go without texting, Instagram, or TikTok for up to six hours, we believe they will benefit in the long run. And Rochester students are in good company. Districts and charter schools across the state are required by law to create and implement their own cell phone policies by March 15, and we’re excited to see if test scores improve across Minnesota as a result.

In the meantime, we encourage parents to support the new policies in Rochester and throughout southeastern Minnesota. Don’t let elementary school students bring phones to school. Discourage middle school students from doing so unless there is an obvious need after school. Unless there is a true emergency, parents should refrain from calling or texting their children during the school day.

Finally, if parents really want to help their children say goodbye to cell phones, they can put their preaching into practice.

Your smartphone records every minute you use it, how long you use each app, and how many times you unlock your phone each day. If you’ve never gone into your settings and checked this data, you’ll probably be shocked at what you’ll find.

It’s not healthy to check your phone 100 times a day, and neither is it to spend two hours scrolling through videos or your favorite social media app. If your phone is next to your plate, you’re going to look at it at some point. If you have your phone in your pocket while you walk the dog or help your third-grader with homework, you’re not likely to ignore incoming texts or emails.

We’re not telling parents to throw away their phones. Rather, we’re saying that many adults (including members of this editorial board) could benefit from a “timeless” period in their daily lives. Leave the phone inside when you mow the lawn. Lock it in the car when you play pickleball or nine holes of golf. When you watch a movie or TV show with your kids, put everyone’s phones in another room.

Spend time with your children, your partner and your friends. Be present no matter what you are doing.

These texts and emails are still there an hour or two later.