It has now officially been two full months of New York state’s cell phone ban in public schools, a law that surrounds most technology used by students and educators every day. It aims to improve student focus in classrooms with deans and teachers as the main enforcers, yet, its implementation has been a bit confusing for some.
What is the NYS Phone Ban?
To simplify the Chancellor’s Regulation A-413, the ban states that any devices capable of connecting to the internet (e.g. phones, laptops, and tablets) are not allowed to be used during the school day. The only exceptions to the rule are in cases of emergencies and during testing.
The law was passed by Governor Hochul and Melissa Aviles-Ramos, the chancellor of NYC’s Department of Education, with Mayor Adams following through with it shortly after.
“Our kids are in school to learn, but too often, cell phones are used in manners that are distracting, degrading, and dangerous to our young people. The state cell phone ban was the first step in putting our kids back on track to learn and thrive in safe, nurturing environments, and this new cell phone policy is the next step in ensuring students are given the best shot to succeed in school,” said Mayor Adams in a press conference.
What are the results of the ban?
The Beacon surveyed students of Forest Hills High School regarding what they know and think of the phone ban. The data shows that some students do not understand all of the rules of the phone ban.
The responses from the survey ranged from support of the ban to being firmly against it.
In the survey, over half of the students believed that the ban was not necessary.
Liora Lerner, a junior, said, “To me, banning phones in schools is like putting a band-aid on a deep wound; it stops the bleeding in the moment but doesn’t fix the real problem. We’d be better off being taught responsible phone usage. After all, no one is locking up your phone in the real world, so what are we really learning by banning them?”
Savannah Samsair, a senior, mentioned the ban affecting the innocent. “The average student doesn’t tend to use their phone in class unless they’re confused and searching something up. There are the few outliers who constantly use their phones in class, but a ban shouldn’t affect the innocent.”
The survey also showed that over half of the participants believed that the ban was not completely enforced everywhere in the building. Valery Giraldo-Uribe, a freshman, said, “We can use it in lunch.”
Savannah also added, “It is enforced when a higher-up is supervising. Otherwise, it is not as heavily enforced. This is especially true when it’s easier for a student to use their personal devices to complete a task.”
The ban has also impacted technology-based activities, even from within the classroom. “I used to do homework on my phone when I had free time. Since the ban, I’m unable to do this or any other basic tasks like scanning a QR code to fill ou
t surveys like this. It’s becoming less and less efficient to get any digital assignments done,” Liora said.
The law left room for school principals and boards to have some input.
“We want to be clear that the phones are not allowed anywhere in the building. We are looking carefully at the spaces where the students have some downtime, including the cafeteria,” said Principal Wilbur. “It’s our intention to make sure that we’re in compliance with the whole policy, and there may be some adjustments that we have to make as we transition into this new school year.”
