I remember, in ancient history, that my very average public school system had a zero-electronics policy (with the exception of the mandatory TI-xx calculator, m

I remember, in ancient history, that my very average public school system had a zero-electronics policy (with the exception of the mandatory TI-xx calculator, medical devices, and watches). Any other electronics, like computers, or musical equipment, were provided for the students by the school for specific classes or lessons. School security guards would wander the halls and catch kids listening to walkmen, or playing with some other gizmo, and seize them -- recoverable only at the end of the year by the student's parents. Cell phones technically existed at the time, but were too expensive and bulky for students to be carrying around. If people had them at all they were usually mounted permanently in a car. While it was pretty draconian, I get why the rule was in place, though I can also see why it would also be relaxed somewhat given the massive increase in the prevalence of personal electronics since the stone age I grew up in. But I don't understand why it's turned into such complete wild west. Even during my time, if you kept it in your bookbag, you were fine. That students are wandering the halls, or sitting in class, on their phones, is mindboggling. "But what about emergencies!", that was trivially handled by all parents having an emergency number, where they could call the school and summon the student in just a couple of minutes over the public address system. I really fear for future generations.