♪ > > This week on the Wheelhouse > > Phone for ECT.

push to ban cell Phones Inc.

> > Cool community Imelda now > > for > > Connecticut Public on Frankie Graziano.

This is the Wheelhouse.

The show that brings politics to the people.

We've got your weekly dose of politics in Connecticut and beyond right here.

I use the car that smartphones make a stupid.

> > Well, social media can also feed a sense of isolation and persecution and anger.

Watson, dangerous psychological cocktail.

What thanks to you, Connecticut was a leader in getting these phones out of the classroom.

Let's go one step further.

No phones, bell dumbbell in any of our schools.

> > Yeah, your carpet, right?

Daddy.

I love that word card.

That's Governor Ned Lamont, addressing lawmakers at his recent state of the State address at the state Capitol in Hartford.

Amid all that sunshine, those poor in individuals had to endure.

As you usually see in the state of the state speech on some Democratic lawmakers are proposing bills this session, they say will protect kids.

One forces, children believe cell phones in their lockers are in the pouch before they enter the classroom.

Other lawmakers, including Republican who appear on the show today say the people behind this effort are trying to co-parent.

This hour.

What a phone-free CT looks like for our kids.

We're going to start with an interview we taped yesterday with a supporter of the proposal.

Jennifer Leeper represents Fairfield in Southport in the state House of Representatives.

She's a Democrat.

Jennifer, thanks so much for being here.

> > Happy to be here.

Thanks for having me.

Let's start with this year's Bill.

Can you give us an outline of what's in the bill?

> > So I mean, we'll have many bills.

From education.

But are you talking about the cell phone free?

Yes, yes.

Okay.

So what we are doing is actually modeling off of.

I think the 26 states who have gone before us in passing this.

Is responding to the research that is overwhelming, saying that children benefit from having.

> > A focused learning environment that is free, have the distraction of their cell phones from the beginning of the school day for the end of the school day.

So we call that bell to Bell.

And we want to have storage.

I included as a part of this bill.

So there's a place for the phone to be that sort of out of sight of the kids.

So it also not only has a focused learning environment but also promote sort of all of that natural socialization that happens in school that we all experienced that unfortunately our kids are experiencing because they're feeling all those times with being on their cell phone in school.

> > Bell dumbbell.

That's their rhetoric we're hearing or at least be repeated.

So what is the the nuance behind that phrasing?

Is it that you simply show up at the school day at some point in it, turn your phone and just help us understand what Bell the bell means exactly.

> > You got it.

So before the bell rings in the morning, you put your phone in your designated storage spot and then you don't get your phone back until after the final bell rings.

At the end of the day.

> > Is there a budget that's going to be attached to this or like a fiscal note in terms of storage, you have to help out the towns in terms of may be getting like a Yondr pouch or or will they decide designated spots and then ultimately funded.

If > > We're not requiring Yondr they pouches or anything like that.

I do believe in past budgets there had been bonding allocations made for storage purchases for districts who wanted to do that.

And I will certainly advocate for some additional bonding to be available for districts who want some assistance and purchasing storage solutions.

But it doesn't have to be yonder.

And we've heard from some districts actually is like now I'm Globes.

And, you know, depending on your school size, it also probably will help dictate what kind of storage is manageable for the school to administer.

Why are you behind this effort?

I work with a lot of young people closely and Qaeda watched it impact that like being bombarded by messages on their cell phone and never actually communicating, they will be together and they will also be on their cell phone.

And I will watch the impact that's had in real time.

And I honestly feel really sad.

We have been sort of protected them better from what we actually know is addictive technology and then said we make them feel like it's their fault.

They can't manage their usage when actually big tech has designed these things intentionally to be addictive and keep them coming back.

> > I think even as adultery, we didn't grow up with cell phones, but we can feel the impact of wanting to constantly check our phones and we have the benefit of having a fully developed a brain.

Additionally, of course, Trump, it hits book is Generation, I think was really powerful.

Laying out the case in the data around how these technologies have impacted our young people.

But I think we can do better and it's incumbent on us.

We know better.

You do better and help our kids be successful.

> > You said that this is one of your priorities is why we've asked you to be on the show.

You got 2 kids, correct?

And oh, yeah.

So is this something that's personal to use the something that you personally care about in that regard?

> > Yeah, I I have joking colors, all sort of like an old-school 80's where my kids don't have tablets.

They don't have phones.

> > I forced them to play outside all the time magnet tiles, even though my kids are 9.11 is still one of the toys that's a hot commodity in our house and they ride their bikes in our neighborhood.

I feel really lucky.

We live in a neighborhood like that where we have kids out playing an engaging just this year.

My 11 year-old is in middle school mount Once the weather got colder is operating as bike to school and started taking the bus.

And he said he and his one body were the only kids on the bus who didn't have a cell phone at the bus is silent.

Nobody talks to each other and all the kids are sitting there just on their phones.

The whole ride to school.

And, you know, from his perspective, it's so boring.

> > But from my perspective, really, really sad.

There's so much sort of development and growth that happens in those types of spaces for kids and our kids are missing out on that.

And who knows what they're exposed to on their phones.

So, yeah, I think it's also personal.

> > How long have you all proposed this type of legislation is the first time to sort of be introducing it or was there discussion last year?

> > Last year we raised a concept around districts requiring districts have a policy to reduce.

> > That presence of cell phones and technology and that Bill didn't pass the Senate.

And so.

Created the good opportunity.

And I kind of telegraph last year to all the stakeholders.

> > And coming from phone free school of next year, this was sort of to lead the discussion and get people thinking about it and a lot of our districts have already headed in this direction.

> > And I think it will be a natural fit for where most of them are going.

> > And for a few needed, maybe a little I suspect we will hear from them.

This will have a public hearing and > > the full process of engaging with all the stakeholders will still continue to take place.

> > Short session, there's going to be a public hearing, as you said, just but just quickly it with you still have time to do all that in the short session.

Will there ever be a little more urgency?

> > And, you know, there's that urgency that exists around the short session.

So process will all take place before May 6.

And thankfully our districts and superintendents and board of Ed and their representatives are familiar with that I know I'll be hearing from them.

> > Governor Lamont on Attorney General William Tong have been outspoken proponents of the bill, but have there been supporters from the Republican Party?

Is there any kind of bipartisan in this or are you seeing more on the other side that are against this measure?

> > So I would first, I'm very grateful for the support of the governor and the attorney general and across the nation is actually has been an issue that red states have been leading on an Apple Estates.

We're a little bit behind the curve there and I think it will be one of those issues in the legislature.

Words not neatly gonna fall along party lines.

I think there will be supporters on both sides of the aisle and concerns expressed on both sides of the aisle.

> > Representative Leeper, thank you so much for coming on the Wheelhouse this morning.

You got it.

Thanks so much for having me.

We heard from a proponent of the bill and now let's hear from the opposition Republican Gayle master for Tesco is a state representative out of Southern 10.

Walk it.

Representative Master for Jessica, thank you so much for coming on this morning.

> > Thank you so much for having me.

I'm honored to be > > Good to have you out.

Hey, here.

you just heard Rep Leeper talking her proposal for phone-free classrooms.

Can you react what you just heard?

> > I would say that I don't s I believe that parents obviously want their children in school learning and not being distracted.

Everybody knows that, you know, you learn better when you're not distracted.

The issue here isn't do we need to have a state law, the ban, cell phones, it and the schools.

I think schools are doing a really good job voluntarily doing in AM that round.

They know their students the best and for me, there are no need to have a state law to ban them.

It doesn't it that it may actually makes no sense.

Are you worried or you can just?

We are your goals and really just do it on their > > Are you worried about like own.

a lawsuit or something like that?

I think you've been talking about a Constitution, Ali, and things like that.

I don't believe I mentioned, I think by cast to show that that it that it's unconstitutional and of for an infringement of rights.

> > don't believe I mention that may be some may be one of my colleagues did, but I do love or at least rumored I think it was actually I'm I may have it wrong in the wrong context.

It may be > > It was about the social that.

media protection bills or one of those.

But either way you can tell us now whether or not you think it's unconstitutional or at least whether you feel enforcement of the issue might be tough.

> > Yeah, I mean, I think it Forstmann it.

You know, we we tend to pass these laws in Connecticut I believe that does government feels that they know best what's best for their children and that the parents and a lot of times we pass these laws.

But there's no way to enforce them.

So I'm really interested to see the language on here.

The how do you enforce this?

What happens if the child does not put the phone in a pouch or does bring their phone to school?

It seems to me that this is more of a discipline problem within the schools that maybe they can't manage the children if there using their cell phones in the classroom.

You know, back when I went to school, you couldn't even to government school due to a government school.

You were sent to the principal's office right?

I think we lack a lot of that enforcement a lap.

A lot of discipline in here in the state of Connecticut.

And I think that's just society in general these days.

There's not as much discipline that could be taken in the school, prevent these that happening.

> > You talked about the other side of this per proposal here essentially trying to be a co parent.

Can you talk more about the parents in this regard and protections for parents.

> > Sure.

I mean, that was in the state is always trying to cope parent, right?

They feel that they know what's best.

They feel that they know how to raise children better than the parents do.

And honestly, if a parent doesn't want their child to go to school with a cell phone, they have the right not to send them to school with a top us cell phone just like representative Lee percent that she does not have or children go to school with his cell phone.

But the kids on the bus are constantly with have cell phones and they're communicating with each other that way.

And that's fine.

That's her choice is apparent.

So when the state Rice Interferon Co parent with that with the parents, it's a problem because parents know their children best.

The teachers know their students best, not the state government.

> > As a member of the committee on Children, Representative Master for Tesco.

What are you prioritizing the session?

What can we look forward to over the next couple of months?

> > Well, you know, we are in the minority, as you know, the Republicans.

So, you know, a lot of times we unfortunately spend our time trying to I'd say pause or stop bad policy from happening.

We haven't seen all of the bills come out yet.

They just raised them is concepts alone.

We should know more within a week or > > Would you say that you're so.

going to push?

I heard Representative Candelora came on here last week and he talked about ecs funding in potentially getting more money to the towns.

Is that something that you may argue on behalf of in this committee?

> > Yeah.

And children's does not.

> > We don't do anything like that.

That really goes to appropriations.

> > The more that obviously more obviously people want more money for their towns.

Obviously they want more money put into their education cost sharing.

> > Sure.

Is there anything you're looking to in particular this year that you'd like to you'd like to push?

> > I think there's a lot of issues going on Abuse for children.

Obviously we need to focus on that.

We've seen that there's a big push this year to regulate home schooling, which I'm totally against.

That topic may come up into our children's committee may come into education's multiple committees that can come through.

But that's certainly a target, something fiercely against and we may reach out to you when it comes through that time to talk about that.

Representative Gail Master for Tesco.

> > Thank you so much for being on the show.

> > Thank you from much for having me.

Thank you.

> > After the break, we're going to talk about how a ban might play out in the classroom.

If that happens, parents, what are your concerns about cell phones in the classroom?

Big years up.

Give us a call.

They did 8, 7, to 0, 9, 6, 7, 7, ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ This is a Wheelhouse from Connecticut Public Radio.

I'm Frankie Graziano.

> > This hour, we're talking about a phone free CT.

We just heard from a Democratic and Republican lawmaker.

Now we're going hear from 2 teachers with us now is Gayle Jordan.

The Bloomfield Education Association and secretary for the Connecticut Education Association.

Gayle, thank you so much for coming on.

Thank you for having me.

Very happy to have you out.

Also happy to have on John Murphy up, professor of digital media business strategies at the University of Connecticut.

John, thanks for coming on the show.

Thank you for having me.

Folks who want to give us a call.

888-720-9677.

If you'd like to talk about this conversation, are you concerned about cell phones in the classroom?

Are you a parent?

Are you a teacher like these 2 folks here?

Gayle, First question for you.

How long have you been a teacher?

> > This is my 20th year in education.

19 of which have been in Bloomfield.

And when you're in the break.

What are you noticing from students concerning cell phones in class?

I think it's a noticing about society in general.

definitely think that cell phones.

> > A space and a place that we are all on it all the time.

And even as an adult, it's a challenge for me to make sure I put my phone down and be attentive to conversations.

So I just think that it's an area where we really need to work on if they're going to be in the schools we've been working on teaching students how to manage their time and be more responsible with them.

> > Gayle, are you proposing a ban on cell phones in schools?

And and if you are, how would Bloomfield, for example, handle such a ban?

> > So but that doesn't have a formal policy.

As of right now, however, across the schools cell phones are already not allowed.

So the expectation is that we shouldn't see That means that students shouldn't have them on their body.

They should have them in their lockers.

And if we do see them, we as teachers are instructed to take them because they're not supposed to be in schools.

> > They are working on formulating some policy or language more formally for next However, it's already in place and not only my teacher, I'm a mother and my child and her high school, which is not in Bloomfield the students are allowed to have their cell phones.

But at the beginning of each class as they walk in, they have to put their cell phone in a container.

And then as they leave, they're allowed to take them.

I just think that it's a really great idea students it's already challenging enough to keep students attention while you're teaching and this cell phones are just a huge distraction.

This is the peak of their social life and everything that's happening is on those cell phones and a ring or vibration quickly takes their mind away what it is we're trying to teach at the front of the rim.

John, when teachers are lawmakers have questions about cell phone bans in schools.

> > Are they coming to you for advice?

Are you in any way affiliated with this effort?

Are people talking about it?

I'm not.

I'm affiliated in the issue capacity, but I am starting to get a lot of inquiries from organizations to speak at public forums.

> > Or to advise the legislators that with my opinion is so it started is starting to ramp up that people are coming me to speak.

But no official capacity capacity.

> > Why should students not use cell phones in school or at the very least practice some kind of effort to reduce screen time or reduce the allure of what they're looking at on their phone.

My experience with college students has really been interesting.

I've been professor up here for 10 years.

> > Before that, I was an industry for 35 plus years.

And I noticed a real change in the last year with the upperclassmen in college.

Take we we used to just, you know.

Asked them not to use their smartphones during a lecture time and they really couldn't stay away from it.

More about 5 or 10 minutes because it distracted by the noise is the pains and the way that their brains are trained.

It an addictive, Ashton to always be on the lookout for the next message.

What happens in the last year that I think is really interesting to me is that once the data came in, the signs came in that attention spans were being reduced.

The ability to learn what was being significantly reduced.

The students also picked up on that and this year for the first time starting the fall, I asked the students no phones, no laptops, everything down unless we needed for an exercise that we're working on.

I asked How do you feel about that?

They all wanted that.

They told me that during internships in the summer they realize their attention span capacity was extremely limited and it was going impact their careers and they knew they had to start reducing their screen time on smart phones.

So they did.

They encouraged me to enforce that.

that's been a base which they're they're very aware of this.

The current generation that the impact smartphones are having on their ability to learn.

It's fascinating.

We both teach at the University of Connecticut.

I teach part-time as a adjunct in the in the journalism department, John and well, first of all, I do a lot of public speaking somebody that likes diagnosed > > So it's tough when I guess ADHD.

I see somebody looking at their phone and I'm talking, but I'm trying to still be somewhat, I guess, deferential because I too.

I'm obsessed with my phone.

So like that's kind of what I'm going through.

What do you go through in that situation?

John, if you were to see somebody on their phone.

> > Well, I was the last few years and fathered me something I would you know, I don't I never want to Seamus student or make them feel bad about it.

So I've never done that.

But this year, what I'm doing is just working with them and asking the students.

Can you just notice notice that you need to look at that phone notice the poll that you have and I was taking you away from your ability to learn and we start there just started noticing because to your point, I had a student because we've talked about this a lot of has to tell me that they had ADHD and it was really difficult for them to stay away from it for long periods of time that they almost needed it.

so I supported the fact that that's where they're at in life and and that's what they need.

But then to just begin the journey of self awareness that and trying to if you can only pay attention for 10 minutes before a look at your phone.

See if we can get that to 15 or 20.

They want to.

That's the interesting thing to me that currently is the students want start breaking these habits.

They have with their smartphone and social media and be able to be in a room engaging with clients are professors for longer periods of time.

I think there are becoming very self aware that this is a significant issue.

Gayle, now looking at you hear when you're thinking about being a teacher of 20 years, we are dealing here primarily.

> > John and I with adults.

It's a little different when you have a younger student pull out the cell phone kind of help me what go help me understand what goes through your mind if you were to a cellphone in school and kind of what the calculus is in your head at the time.

> > So this year I'm actually down with the 3rd and 4th graders previous to this my 18 years was.

> > Hey, my daughter, 6 years old and she's already asking for a phone, right?

A right.

And we're out of 3 and a 3rd and 4th grader there.

Go ahead, right?

Right.

> > But I will say previous this I was in a 5, 8 school in the issues with cell phones were actually much more frequent I haven't seen it happening as at the 3 for level.

But I'm sure that it will.

so in reality, it it causes conflicts, direct conflict because teachers are being asked to kind of be that shield.

and in and be the ones to tell students that they need to put their cell phone away and I'm not sure that it's worth the teaching time that it takes right when you're talking about high school courses you're talking about 45 minute classes.

And if you have a student that wants to have their cell phone out.

We did not purchase the cellphone for them as previous representatives stated, we are not their parents and their parent did allow them to bring the fight to school so it causes unnecessary conflict by even having the phone in on their person so I really do think a bell to Bell band, whether that means that the students are not supposed to bring the fun to school at all, which I think is a bit much.

I think more regularly.

I I do like the plan that my daughter's school has that, you know, it's just the expectation you walk in the room.

You put your cell phone in a particular container and you can get it back as you leave.

They're allowed to use it during their lunch, which is their social time.

And you would hope they want to be social it the each other personally.

But you know, if they choose to be on their phone, that's their right but not having the ban in place or the rules and space to say that you're not supposed to have your phone during class time.

Just causes conflicts for those particular students that are like it's mine.

It's my personal device can tell me what to do with it.

And if the you know, if law comes into place in the state law can help support schools and enforcing that ban then, you know, similar to what John just said.

A lot of students are appreciative of you saying no, this is the line.

You're not allowed to use it.

That helps them right.

you know, similarly, if the if the town itself, the board of Ed, it's supporting the school in saying we're not doing cell phones in school.

That helps.

And at the state level at the state is saying, hey, in schools, we don't want cell phones that helps the town be able to say, well, our policy is going along with what the last thing so really, I think it's a trickle down effect of just making sure that the enforcement is in place to help students focus again.

It's just about the focus > > Yeah, I couldn't agree 100% more of that that has bought on.

up against a technology with a smartphone design that is way more powerful than any parent or a person can handle alone.

Did this.

I can't even the size, not the size and data behind the smartphone.

His eyes.

So if we have laws in place is exactly what was just spoken about.

It helps everybody, including the students be able to put the phone down and not have it as school without peer pressure.

If you have 3 kids with the phone and 2 kids without a really presents issues, I can totally see that.

> > Gayle, can you put your CEA had on here and help us look at the state as a whole here and take that sort of 30,000 foot view here.

One of the it's okay shuns for teachers and students.

If we have these bands.

It can you help us, I guess understand to where they are currently in place or maybe some kind of idea how many schools in Connecticut have some kind of > > I don't have accurate or policy?

specific data on how many schools actually have things in place.

I do know that the legislation that was passed last year, I'm really focused on.

Enforcing that.

Schools are requiring that schools have some sort of plan in place, but not necessarily a full out ban.

And like I said across the state, it's different depending on what district or in what the expectations are.

What I do know from the teachers I spoken with is that this has been widely supported like I said, it just takes a step away from.

That contention that's caused teachers and student relationships are so valuable and so important that taking this one piece away this one piece of contention away with just do wonders for us to have a reason why besides just our personal beliefs, it's not just our personal police as Giannis at their studies behind this that show how distracting these things are.

And like I said, these students, middle school and beyond.

This is their key piece of my for social structure in developing their their social habits and the Spartans have all literally it's called social media, right?

And I I believe that there's some legislation going on right now in California.

with you to maybe maybe Tic Tac in regards to challenging that.

They knew that their social media platforms are harmful to children.

Right?

So these things are happening in real time in there.

So easily accessible through those phones and no offense to our teacher.

We do great work in less than planning, but so much more interesting Key it then what may be doing up front and in the classroom around the classroom.

So I know majority of teachers that I've spoken with around the state are in favor of this ban.

> > Well, boy, the joys of parenting in the 21st century.

I've got a 6 year-old daughter and then I have a seven-year-old niece.

They're both very into skincare regimens.

And I tell them that they have beautiful skin and they want to go to a halt on Boulton, buy stuff and I'm asking the people Colin mom, I'm calling my sister-in-law and saying, hey, we've got to make sure whatever we get them here is actually good for their skin because some of the stuff that they want to buy.

Guess what is not good for your skin.

So social media is tough in that regard.

But I do want to underscore this part.

Representative Leeper did say that she may be into getting some kind of state bonding dollars if necessary.

I don't much these things cost, but did it with their always should be a concern.

At least that schools might not have the resources in some way to enforce things or 2, do their job.

Right.

So like if we honor pouch for some reason, costs a lot of money.

Should the state help out with that or get them containers are help us understand that part of Gayle.

> > I definitely think that any additional resources that can be provided would be helpful any time.

A new legislation is passed.

That schools aspirated least maybe that's the I'm not sure if schools have specifically asked for it.

And like I said, and I believe Representative Leeper also kind of reference that each school district knows their families and their student needs the best.

So like I said in my school in the school district that I live in Wethersfield, they just have containers of front.

The kids put their stuff in the containers.

I don't know if those containers were excessively expensive or anything of that nature.

But there is some funding towards that.

That's, you know, needed.

Of course.

So I definitely think that there should be some money set aside to make sure that these things can happen in each diff.

District's needs are going to be different.

The other piece that I we'll say that I'm concerned about.

it that is a responsibility.

These funds are not inexpensive by any means right in.

So just that the story of the phones.

And if it comes to a place where the school is asked to be responsible for holding on to the student's phone all day long and something happens like those are additional pieces we're going to need to talk about because those are expensive.

So you know, I think those are pieces.

We need to be considered as well.

And I want to consider this perspective.

We got from Kendra in Manchester.

> > She said her kids school had Yondr pouches.

She thinks that they're a waste of money.

Now the teacher takes the phone to the principal's office, but she says she supports a cell phone ban and it actually might be helping their student engage more so it I are you hearing anything about the band's working or not working or at least are you hearing the other thing where students might be going around man's?

> > I have say that it spoke about earlier going I have some data that we've been collecting and globally it a according UNESCO, 40% of all education systems globally have banned smart phones in schools, England, UK 90% of all schools have a smart phone ban.

The Rihanna and the net effect that early studies are 75% increases better student concentration.

> > Reduced distraction.

Better social interactions.

So this is not a fringe for this is not a new effort.

It might be new here.

The rest of the world is already way ahead of us when it comes to this.

And they're already I'm saying.

Positive results with their students when it comes to focus in the classroom.

Better test scores better creativity.

That is social interaction.

This is mainstream and the rest of the world right now.

> > I believe that.

Thank you.

I apologize.

I country Joe it shot I think similar to what John noticed in his actual students that when it's truly enforced.

Regularly, students will see an increase in their own focus and the increase in their own attention span and in the end, what I tell my students, even in 3rd and 4th grade is that we are in a society in which you are it's a competitive nature for jobs, right?

And so that the student that is paying more attention in class and is absorbing more of the learning is going to have that cup.

So we need to be mindful of that when students are in class, that's the purpose is for you to learn so that you can be successful beyond school.

> > You're almost saying, John, to that.

This is uniquely American Gail matter that's go earlier saying earlier that we're talking about parents rights.

Is that an argument?

People are out globally.

Is Gail, is that an argument you're hearing about in Wethersfield or in Bloomfield or in other towns?

> > I know that globally.

They're not.

> > Speaking of his against as much as the United States.

It is a cultural thing in the United States.

That's why there are social media bans for children minors under the age of 16 and many countries.

And that is picking up big-time speed.

But we can't get that done in the United States quite as easily because of our culture.

I think what I'm seeing is the rest of the world is more concerned with health children.

You know, safety.

We're more concerned with individual rights.

And when we're up against the machine, that's developing technology at the rate.

It is and getting way ahead of legislation.

The rest of world saying, look, we need to take care of her kids.

We need to take care of our own mental and physical health for us and make money second.

And it seems to be in America right now.

We're more concerned with making money and doing whatever we think is right for us.

But we're up against machine has way more powerful design and we are and I think it is a cultural thing.

What about the safety aspect, Gayle, we hear about this.

A lot of people want to reach out to the kids.

They're worried they're not going to be able to if > > the phones in a pouch and their kid is in the classroom.

Is there a way that parents can somehow reach out to their kids without the cell phone?

Is there a way that they can get a hold of their kids in an emergency?

> > if I'm honest with you, I > > So in conversations around I do get this a lot and my response to that honestly is if there is an emergency situation happening.

Do you want your child paying attention to you on the phone?

> > Or me in the moment, knowing what's going on, trying to keep them safe.

> > I really, really, really hone in on that because that is.

> > Luckily, thank goodness.

I've not been in real situation where my classroom is in danger.

But that's the reality of it.

I know that if students have their phones on them, no matter the age, the first thing they're going to want to do is to reach out to their family.

But I need them to listen to me.

> > And to know what the next steps are.

I don't need funds.

Buy rating or ringing or letting anyone know where we are in the building at that moment.

> > I need them to be focused on me in the road to be silent.

That is the reality of the situation.

And as a parent.

I feel wholeheartedly.

I don't want my child on the phone during an emergency because I want her paying attention to her surroundings, not paying attention to the fire I really feel very strongly about that.

> > I got a taste of what those 3rd and 4th graders get right there.

I'm bringing my phone anywhere > > near you.

various card and John, just really quickly, because we're running out of time here.

> > One thing us in the production team, you're on the Wheelhouse were really intrigued by was something that you've talked about in the passes grayscale feature.

Can you help us about other efforts to reduce screen time?

Take about a minute on other efforts that you might recommend a students.

> > Sure.

So, first of all, no matter what kind of phone you have to, you know, I asked, go out and go and go and find out.

Turn your phone to grayscale which basically turns your smartphone into a black and white TV interface immediately.

Your brain.

Gets quiet.

You'll have no desire to look at all the apps on your smartphone once it goes to grayscale.

I did that performance.

That worked wonders for my screen.

Time to other things you can do.

Don't bring your smartphone into the bedroom leave if you have to have in the bedroom put way far away from mom.

The nightstand put it somewhere across the road.

So you can hear any noises blue light, anything that comes off of the smartphones is really just tracking.

They're designed that way.

Low-level radiation, they keep you awake.

You don't sleep as well as I say, keep the phone away from the bedroom.

Turning to grayscale.

Don't put it in your pocket when you go to the JAMA, wherever you go in life, you don't need your smartphone and you just go and interact with the activity.

Start breaking new daily habits.

So the only using your smartphone when you want to first is why it has trained you to be carrying it with you at all times.

Great tips there from John Murphy.

We also got to meet Gayle Jordan.

Here was terrific.

> > To hear your perspective and it seems like everybody understands that at least even in a bipartisan fashion that phones do have a serious impact on children.

So good to hear all this.

This is CEA secretary in Bluefield teacher Gayle Jordan.

We also John Murphy, UConn professor at the School of Fine Arts.

What a conversation that we had.

Thank you guys for coming on.

The Wheelhouse.

Thank you for having que after the break.

> > Lisa Hagen is back on the Wheelhouse to talk about and update on the federal government shutdown and funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

More Wheelhouse next after the break.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ This is the Wheelhouse from Connecticut Public Radio.

I'm Frankie Graziano.

We spent the show talking about legislation to extract cell phones for local classrooms in Connecticut, removing to some breaking news now back with us to talk about the federal government and continuing resolutions for the umpteenth time is my friend Lisa Hagens does come with a bit of a twist this time which underscores the moment I think federal lawmakers find themselves in lot to talk about.

Lisa, Connecticut Mirror and Connecticut Public, federal policy reporter.

Thank you so much for hopping on with us this morning.

> > Thanks for having me.

Always good to be here.

Always good to have you here.

And always good to talk about the federal government shutdown.

> > All right.

Before we get to that twist that it is Lisa, because this isn't for import information.

Can you break down for us in the recent deal brokered by federal lawmakers and the Trump administration to end the most recent shutdown.

What happened in that deal?

> > Look, we're in a bit of deja vu, right?

We're talking about a lot of shut down the nets for a period of time.

But obviously we all know we were in a quite a long shutdown.

Historically long one in the fall.

And then they funded part of the government and kept it running a little bit longer and so we were facing another potential partial shutdown on, although it was many agencies that are some of our largest in the government.

And so the ramifications would have been don't for a pretty large and so basically we did fall into a partial shutdown only for a couple of days, but they basically brokered a deal between Senate Democrats and President Trump to find.

Every single agency by the Department of Homeland Security to give negotiators pretty much 10 days to work out.

A deal to figure out his reforms, which is currently what Congress is facing.

And so it is often basically a little bit more time to try to figure things out.

But it did lead to a very tiny shut down.

> > As we're currently constituted right now, we're in a shot down for the Federal Department of Homeland Security where that is due to start soon.

Everything is funded, but the department until early September 30th to have that correct.

> > Yes, if they cannot figure out funding after Friday, DHS, the Department of Homeland Security will be in a shut down.

Everything else will be funded through the end of the time.

> > Or okay.

So we don't have the shutdown yet for DHS.

Okay.

That okay.

But everything else until September 30th.

Okay.

So there was a wrinkle that I have talked about in that Connecticut's federal delegation.

They're all Democrats.

They usually votes him early on bills.

As we always discuss here on the show, split almost down the middle, though, on the federal funding proposal.

Well, > > I will caveat the beginning and say they all at least they all feel the same about trying to find reforms.

And so they are all ideologically in the same place.

But as you said, it is very rare that you see the delegation split in this kind of way.

And so when that funding, yeah, we talked about earlier to be easily buy them time to negotiate eyes, reforms.

Senator Murphy and Senator Blumenthal split on it.

The Delhi, the 5 person delegation, the House split pretty much evenly on it.

And so that was a big deal in a notable one.

And so proponents who voted for the deal were saying, hey, this buys us more time.

This actually gives us more leverage to try to extract some concessions from Republicans on DHS because a larger shutdown would be off the table and is off the table currently.

But there's people like Senator Murphy, Congressman Larsen and Congresswoman Hayes who didn't vote for that deal who just they said we're not going to support any more funding for ICE for Border Patrol without already securing a deal.

And so that it's, you know, you have to parse it a little bit That's why they broke along those lines.

But interesting, nonetheless.

> > And the law rose really interesting because this is somebody who is a big part of the conversation on appropriations.

So I wonder if that had something to do with that.

When you're talking about proponents of the bill are saying, hey, we got to take this deal.

> > Yeah, that's a tough one for her because she was directly involved in negotiating this and had tried to extract some ice reforms in the initial bill.

And so, you know, this is the big one for her.

She's ranking member top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee.

She doesn't deal with just the judge to do with every single other government agency.

And so getting through funding for the rest of the government.

It is important for everyone, but especially for her when she directly involved in that.

And so, you know, her.

Office likes to know that they basically were able to rebuff some of that from cuts to public health funding.

Some other federal funding.

And so, you know, I think for her that was an important reason to vote for it.

But again, you have people other in the delegation saying, you know, we we said we were not going to vote for any more ICE funding until we get a deal and they didn't.

Even though it's fine them more time to negotiate.

I was off the table for them.

> > Do you see this continuing in some way with the delegation as they try to get a handle on their position against the Republican against more of this sort of w**** nilly sort of cutting at the federal level or at least a culture of of more cuts at the federal level.

> > Yeah, we'll see.

I'm I'm really curious to see how just Democrats it the whole bow on this probably probably closer to Friday, potentially tomorrow.

But I mean, this will be there will be a vote on a short-term continuing resolution for DHS by the end of the week.

Republicans have already set that up.

Denver.

I don't I don't anticipate, though, the same kind of lead because Democrats have already signaled, you know, we we basically gave your votes to afford more time to negotiate.

We've given we've taken 10 days to do this.

They're saying we're getting nowhere.

That's that's what Democrats are saying.

And so I don't expect them to given Republicans their vote on this.

And so I would anticipate them being a little more aligned in but we will see maybe in the next day or 2 negotiations break through a little bit more and that may be changing some things.

They want to extend voting for a little bit longer to go.

She agents for a little bit longer, but it definitely seems like Democrats are more aligned this time around.

I'm not voting again for ICE funding.

And if there comes to pass that there is a shutdown because it's looking like the sides are digging in a little bit.

> > Do I say agents for some reason pull out of Minneapolis?

Does T A T S agents stay home from work.

2 flights get grounded.

Like do you have any kind of picture yet?

What this might look like in terms of what a shutdown looks like in and what happens with the Department of Homeland Security and people that work there.

> > Yeah, I think we have a sense of what that would look like.

I mean, it could even if we're in a 3rd shut down a matter for months, this will look nothing like.

But the first one looked like what the second one could have.

Looked like.

It lasted longer.

It's one agency given where we are in with the pay periods.

A lot of these agencies to be fined federal workers but still get paid for another month, even if we fell into a shutdown by Friday.

And so, but what we're looking at, something like ice, I mean, this has been pretty large talking point during these negotiations and just during talking about funding for DHS is that ICE is funded for a really long time because of the so-called big beautiful bill that Republicans passed.

The big tax and spending bill and so I sky 75 billion dollars over 4 years.

And so they're pretty flush in cash.

And that's on top of obviously the funding they get through normal appropriations from Congress.

And so a lot of people are saying like we can fall into a shutdown, it'll affect a bunch of other agencies.

Ice is going to continue to be operating pretty much as it is.

So, you know, if we fall into a shutdown, don't anticipate any big changes for ICE or Border Patrol.

You look at other things that could be affected.

Obviously, though, TSA, FEMA, the Coast Guard, I mean, a lot of these workers we've seen this before.

They don't get furloughed in a shutdown.

They're usually exams.

And they're essential workers.

Matt Ritter, State lawmaker recently pointed out the Wheelhouse that most cuts laid out in the federal public and tax and spending > > Don't come until after the plan.

midterms.

We only got about 45 seconds to do this.

You did a story on this.

Help us understand more about the be big beautiful bill.

And when those cuts are going to pack folks.

> > Yeah, Matt Rivers, right in terms the implementation.

So basically the thing you'll see the most of it is when you're filing your taxes this year in the springs, you're going to see some of those temporary tax breaks depending on where your income falls leatherbacks on.

More deductions for tips and overtime.

There's more deductions for seniors little bit bigger but benefit for child tax credit by yeah, he's right.

A lot of these things are gonna come after the midterms and it was designed that way because they don't want to to worry about potential voter blowback in an election.

And so Medicaid and Stache and he's probably not coming to later in the year and in the years to come and the calendar streaks a little bit as folks are campaigning in the summer and the fall, he says we > > You got the city doing saying our federal policy reporter, there is no better.

Nobody better than she is in the business.

Thank you so much, Lisa.

Thanks for having me today.

Show produced by tally Ricketson Patrick scandal at it doing Reyes.

Thank you so much for your work as well as Megan Boone, Andy Patterson and Isaac Moss.

Thank you, everybody for the Wheelhouse this week.

I'm Frankie Graziano.

Thank you for listening.

♪ ♪