New York City public schools may ban student cell phone use as early as January next year. New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks stated that the specific regulations will be announced in two weeks.
According to CBS News, with the rise of cell phone and social media bans nationwide, the upcoming ban will make a return. Last week, Los Angeles announced a ban, and New York State Governor Kathy Hochul is considering a statewide ban.
During former Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s tenure, New York City public schools had a cell phone ban, but the ban was lifted by former Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2015. On June 25, Bloomberg published an op-ed in the New York Post, urging Adams to reinstate the cell phone ban in public schools for the benefit of the children.
City Education Department Chancellor David Banks stated that the new ban could be implemented as early as January 2025. He discussed the issue on a television news program on the morning of Tuesday, June 25. “Cell phones are not just a distraction; kids are now completely addicted to them,” Banks said.
He did not disclose details on how the policy would be enforced, only stated that students would still be allowed to bring their phones to school to facilitate contact with their families after classes, but the education department will establish a system to prevent students from using their phones during class hours. “We will address the issue in the coming weeks,” Banks said.
Mayor Eric Adams also supports Banks’ approach. “Everyone knows that cell phones are a distraction. Many young people see them as a disturbance. Sometimes they are used for bullying and other things in schools,” Adams said. “Believe it or not, one of the biggest resistances comes from parents. They want to be able to contact their children throughout the day. We need to find a sweet spot.”
The United Federation of Teachers leaders said the union would comment once the ban is officially announced.
Some New York City schools collect cell phones, while others do not. In schools where phones are not collected, some principals have been criticized for inconsistency or leniency, allowing some students to find ways to circumvent the rules.
Student Wyatt Fowler explained the situation at Martin Luther King Junior High School on the Upper West Side. “When we enter the school, we swipe our cards, put our phones in a box, go through a metal detector, and then go to class. At the end of the day, we retrieve our phones,” Fowler said.
Some parents worry about losing contact with their children in emergencies, and some students who work part-time or help care for family members say they need their phones all day.
Keyonna Mitchie, a mother of four, said she supports a citywide school cell phone ban. “It’s a distraction, and if I know the kids are in school, I’m totally fine with them temporarily confiscating their phones. They can get them back after school,” she said.
In an interview on Jonesy In The Morning on June 26, Adams stated that cell phones have many negative impacts on young people, including high levels of depression and suicidal tendencies. Therefore, the city government is working on a plan that ensures students can focus on learning while parents can still contact their children if needed.
The ban on cell phone use in schools has already been implemented in many places across the United States. Just last week, the Los Angeles Unified School District in California announced a ban. Similar bans have been introduced in states such as Oklahoma, Kansas, Vermont, Ohio, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania. New York Governor Kathy Hochul is also considering a statewide ban on cell phone use in schools.
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