Should phones be allowed in school? Over 10,000 people think so

PRAIRIEVILLE, La. (WKRC) — A petition by a high schooler to allow cell phones in public schools secured over 10,000 signatures in three days.

After Louisiana Senate Bill 207 passed and banned cell phone usage in schools across the state of Louisiana, students were unhappy. Sophomore Kaytlin Villescas told WBRZ she saw the law as a futile attempt at solving a problem that adults don't really understand.

"This is our high school experience, not theirs," Villescas said. "We understand that most adults agree [with Senate Bill 207], but they aren't in high school. So they wouldn't know."

Kaytlin also noted that being able to access a phone during school could be imperative in emergency situations. She said she understands why the devices would be banned in classrooms, but they should at least be allowed in the hallways.

"We keep intentions with our technology pure and I really wish they would see that," she said.

Feeling an injustice, Kaytlin started a petition on Change.org.

"I thought that if there could be a voice for all of us who thought that we could be heard, then it could make a difference because it impacts so many high schoolers in Louisiana," Villescas said. "The students have come up to me and said, 'Hey, I saw your petition. I signed it, and we hope that you could be a voice and we could get some of our rights back that make school tolerable for us."

In just three days, the petition garnered over 10,000 signatures. As of Monday, the petition is almost at 12,000 of its 15,000 signature goal.

WBRZ said Villescas sent her petition to Governor Jeff Landry of Louisiana, but she has yet to receive a response.