It may be 'kneejerkery' and it may not be very effective, but I can't see that it does a lot of harm. Just because this law is not a panacea for all society's ills doesn't mean it might not help (or pave the way for a solution that really does help).

• Oh please. As programmers we complain that pointy-haired bosses think we’re not working when we’re not hunched over the keyboard and tapping away. How is the sort of thinking you’re displaying here any better?

Heh. Does that make me a PHP (Pointy-Haired Parent)? This thread is controversial enough without bringing PHP into it. Might as well start talking about gun laws and XP-whoring ... :)

I still don't think it is unreasonable to limit distractions from education while kids are at school, especially distractions that might pose a threat to their safety. Many schools ban cell phones and impose all kinds of other restrictions on kids' freedoms while at school ... just as my employer imposes restrictions on what I can do and say while at work. For the most part, that seems reasonable.