A new, well-funded advocacy group has launched an effort to ban smartphones in New York schools.
The group Phone Free New York says it has already collected six numbers in its campaign to convince Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state Legislature to approve a law banning cell phone use in class. The Post reported.
Educators and parent advocates say cell phones often become a distraction in the classroom and that too much screen time affects children's mental health.
“Since the pandemic, social media usage has skyrocketed, while children's well-being has collapsed,” said Raj Goyle, founder of Phone Free New York.
“Smartphone use in schools has increased school violence and bullying, created a distracting educational environment, and isolated children from each other,” he said.
“Schools need to inspire learning and social connection, which is why Phone Free New York is focused on making sure Albany takes action to protect our children.”
Hochul said he would announce “statewide standards” on the issue in Tuesday's executive budget proposal and welcomed support from Phone Free New York.
Last year, she conducted a “listening tour” on smartphone abuse in the classroom.
“From the Parent Teacher Association to business and economic leaders, New Yorkers agree that young people succeed in the classroom when they are learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling,” Hochul said. said.
“After a hearing tour with students, parents, educators, and other stakeholders, we look forward to promoting new statewide standards for distraction-free schools as part of our budget proposal. .”
the nation has great power teachers union — New York State Unified Teachers Association — supports a “no phone” school policy.
At least eight other states, ranging from liberal blue to conservative red, have enacted such bans, and more states are considering proposals this year.
States that impose restrictions on telephone use include California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Goyle, a former Kansas congressman turned New Yorker and co-founder of the 5boro Institute think tank, acknowledged that digital technology has “supercharged” productivity and boosted the American economy.
But he said research shows the convenience of smartphones has a “serious negative impact” on young people.
Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams have discussed curbing smartphone use in classrooms, but no action has been taken yet.
Consensus was hard to come by in the city's Department of Education, which has 1,800 schools in 14,000 buildings. Some parents said children should at least have access to a cell phone in an emergency.
“This is a great opportunity for our new organization, Phone Free New York, to serve as a hub of activity and a clearinghouse for innovative policy solutions,” Goyle said. “We will be lobbying the New York City Department of Education to implement a no-phone policy this spring, and then requesting that Albany send a bill to the governor.”
He said New York could once again become the leader it was when former Mayor Mike Bloomberg imposed a smoking ban in bars and restaurants in 2003, and other cities and states followed suit.
Phone Free New York plans to apply for nonprofit tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service to defend the issue. It has hired consulting firm Metropolitan Strategies, led by Neil Kwatra, to help run the free phone campaign in schools.
Last year, Goyle helped lobby Hochul and Congress to approve a popular bipartisan bill to stop social media companies from targeting children with addictive algorithms. . The law is called the Stopping Addictive Feed Exploitation for Children (SAFE) Act.
Hochul said Sunday he would focus his political efforts on the issue.
“[Children] I'm obsessed with my cell phone. And it took kids to a dark mental health place,” Hochul said Sunday on CBS New York's “The Point” with Marcia Kramer.
The governor said little about whether he would propose a “bell-to-bell” ban or whether Albany would put money toward implementing such a system.
