FOREST HILLS, Mich. — The conversation of banning phones in the classroom is nothing new for Forest Hills Schools.

Since 2018, a cell phone ban has been in place after school leaders noticed something concerning: An increase in student hospitalization for mental illness.

“It was alarming. I mean, these are our young people, our 12, 13, 14-year-olds,” Northern Hills Middle School Principal David Simpson said. “What we found is, by removing cell phones, we changed that data point. We had less hospitalizations, less inpatient treatments here at Northern Hills and that data showed throughout our district.”

Be present: That’s what Simpson says is helping his students. Turn off the phones and connect with others.

“Kids, oftentimes, may choose to isolate with their device in their room,” Si

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