Many school districts across Texas have banned the use of smartphones in classrooms, citing a laundry list of reasons why phones and education do not mix.

But is it enforceable? And is it ultimately a good idea?

On the surface a phone ban makes sense. Any smartphone owner is well aware of what a distraction they can be from work, chores around the house, and conversation at the dinner table.

And the problems with phones in school don't end with distraction- many children are addicted to their phones, and constant access to phones can increase cyberbullying and access to unsavory content during school hours.

46 percent of teens said they’re online almost constantly, with 36 percent confessing they spend too much time on social media.

Anecdotally, some teachers have reported nearly silent lunch hours and passing periods, as students tune out from real social interactions to have time with their phones.

For those of us who made friends with the people around us in the lunchroom, this can feel rather sad, if not downright dystopian.

So what are the downsides?

Of course, any potential downsides depend on how the cell phone ban is enforced.

For schools that require students to lock up their phones in the morning and retrieve them at the end of the day, this could pose a communication problem with parents about after-school plans, etc.

However, most of us made do with that exact scenario and survived.

Some parents would prefer their children to have access to their phones in an emergency. However, there are many reasons why students having phones during these times causes more harm than good. 

Emergency responders get overloaded with calls, students focus on phones instead of safety instructions, and some students use the phones to make threats and cyber bully. These are all examples of how cell phones can cause or make an emergency worse.

Are cell phone bans enforceable?

Again, this depends on the type of ban. Simply telling kids "no phones during class time" will lead to teachers interrupting class to enforce the rule.

Some schools charge students a fee to get their phones back, meaning better-off kids will break the rules more often, which is unfair.

Locking phones up uses up resources for the bags and time for the process, but helps to ensure the ban is effective.

Here in Texas, we tend to pride ourselves on our friendliness. A phone ban executed in a way that works might teach our kids those social skills.