Whether in the city of Walker or in Prairieville, students have started a petition to lift the state ban on cell phone use in schools.

According to a petition on Change.org, Emma Hodge has started a petition to the Louisiana House of Representatives to lift Walker High School’s ban on cell phone use. She says it’s not about disrupting classes, but about being able to keep up in an increasingly digital world.

The petition has nearly 400 signatures. A petition by a sophomore at another Louisiana high school has garnered nearly 10,000 signatures on change.org. This petition, initiated by Kaytlin Villescas, aims to get lawmakers to lift the cell phone ban.

Some of the students who post on the site justifying their support for lifting the cell phone ban give several reasons why they think cell phones are useful in school.

Jessie Robert wrote: “This is ruining my senior year.”

To win individuals over to her cause, Villescas makes the following argument:

We propose that, rather than banning cell phone use altogether, schools should teach guidelines for responsible use, building a culture of respect and self-regulation. Allowing us to use our phones within reasonable limits not only builds confidence in us as responsible individuals, but also equips us with the skills needed to manage our own time and distractions.

Many of the thousands of students who signed the petition did so for safety reasons, believing it is in their best interest to be able to use a phone and contact parents or guardians in the event of an emergency.

Other students believe they should be allowed to use their phones during lunch breaks and between classes.

WBRZ reported that Villescas sent all the information and signatures to Governor Jeff Landry, but has not yet received a response from his administration.