My school is banning phones — here’s what students in New York should anticipate when the restriction starts next month

Smartphone Ban in Schools: A Mixed Bag of Opinions

Zach Mangino, a senior at Wilton High School in Connecticut, has spent much of the last school year disconnected from constant notifications and TikTok videos. This change came about due to a decision by the school board to prevent high school students from using smartphones “bell to bell.”

While many of his peers grumbled about the district’s $80,000 investment in lockable pouches from Yondr, Zach actually welcomed the move. “You see kids just kind of standing there, glued to their phones instead of talking to each other,” he observed. “Walking around and seeing kids smile, engaging in real conversations—it makes a huge difference.”

Interestingly, Connecticut doesn’t have a state mandate to ban phones in every public school. By contrast, New York has implemented a law, announced by Governor Kathy Hochul, requiring all personal devices to be turned off and stored during school hours.

This initiative stems from a report titled “More learning, less scrolling: Creating a school without distractions.” The report highlights that American teens face an average of 250 notifications daily, which can detract from their attention spans and learning outcomes.

Public schools in New York are gearing up for this policy change, which goes into effect when the school year begins on September 4th. School officials are figuring out how to handle device storage—whether in lockers, cubbies, or lockable pouches—and there’s a deadline for funding plans coming up soon.

Daniel Lewis, whose daughter attends a charter school that hasn’t adopted such a ban, shared his thoughts with the Post. He appreciates the intent behind the policy but also values being able to contact his daughter during the school day. Lewis understands the distractions phones can create but also feels that phones serve a purpose.

Nationwide, laws against phone use in schools are not particularly common; only 14 states have implemented substantial restrictions. Still, support for such bans is increasing, as noted by recent research from the Pew Research Center.

Parents like Zach’s mother, Sue, express a desire for their children to engage more with their surroundings. “We want our kids to pay attention in the classroom and socialize. Phones can get in the way of that, so we fully support the ban,” she stated.

For Lewis, who has teaching experience, he believes that removing phones helps keep students focused. “If we eliminate distractions, it enhances the learning environment,” he noted.

Experts suggest that these bans could encourage students to be more present, focusing on real-life conversations rather than being glued to screens.

So far, around 2.5 million students in the U.S. are using Yondr pouches, typically employed in venues like Madison Square Garden to keep devices away. These cases aim to create a distraction-free experience for students during school hours.

Graham Degoni, CEO of Yondr, emphasized that the goal is to maintain an environment where students can learn without distractions. He also pointed out the importance of having protocols in place to allow families to reach students in emergencies.

Degoni argues that a phone-free classroom can lead to improved academic performance and decreased disciplinary issues, adding, “When students are free from social media distractions, they actually engage with one another, fostering real-life interactions.”