The New York State teachers union is calling on lawmakers to enact a ban on cell phones in school.
The New York State United Teachers on Monday brought together a coalition of partners in education, health care, child and family advocacy and law enforcement to support “distraction-free schools.”
“Children’s personal devices do not belong in the classroom. We should never have let that happen,” said Julie Scelfo, founder and director of MAMA – Mothers Against Media Addiction. “They are deprived of the real-life experiences and interactions they need with their classmates, with teachers, and with other trusted adults at school, which are critical to their well-being and development, both as students and as people.”
Educators and administrators in districts with phone restrictions in place shared what they saw.
“I’ve been teaching for 30 years and one of my favorite things was to stand in the hallway and just talk to kids as they walked by – until cell phones became popular. Then all I saw was the tops of their heads,” said David Rounds, president of the Bethlehem Central Teachers Association. “But that is no longer the case. Our hallways are lively again, the conversations have returned and it’s just like the old days where I see their smiles and eyes, and I’ve seen firsthand how their engagement improved almost immediately.”
Three years ago, Schoharie banned cell phones and Dave Blanchard, superintendent of the Schoharie Central School District, said it created a more positive environment. “On the first day, our teachers noticed that students were interacting with each other, discussing problems, going to our school counseling office and working through problems instead of solving problems on a cell phone,” he said.
Lysa Mullady, president of the New York State School Counselor Association, added: “Students are attached to devices and use them in place of human connection. There is a false sense of belonging, coupled with a desire to view, post, repost, like and comment as part of a number of ‘followers’. The constant fluctuation of inclusion and exclusion causes enormous anxiety.”
In September, Governor Kathy Hochul said a possible state ban on cellphones in schools was becoming clearer ahead of a September 20 summit on cellphones in schools. Hochul has publicly stated that New York needs such a ban.
According to Newsday, the move would likely be announced at Hochul’s State of the State address in January.
If the ban is passed, it will take effect for the 2025/26 school year, Newsday reported. Union and PTA officials told Newsday they had spoken with the governor about giving districts local control over how to implement the ban. Some options may include special lockers or cell phone pouches.
