Prep talk: School cellphone bans are forcing students to talk again

""It's way different," he said. "Last year everybody played a game on their phone. Now you're forced to talk.""

""The kids don't know it's good for them," Mercado said."

The cellphone ban at Mater Dei High has transformed lunch dynamics, encouraging students to engage in conversations rather than focusing on their phones. Coach Richard Mercado noted that the atmosphere is markedly different from the previous year, where students were absorbed in mobile games. Now, athletes are interacting with each other and non-athletes, fostering a more inclusive environment. Other schools are also adopting similar policies to enhance student interactions during the school day.

Read at Los Angeles Times