New York state is planning to kick cellphones out of public schools “bell to bell” starting next school year, thanks to an agreement announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul. The goal is to shield the kids from the addictive technology that’s constantly vying for their attention, just like how they’ve been shielded from cigarettes, alcohol, and drunk driving in the past.
Hochul, a Democrat, hasn’t given all the details on how the ban will work just yet. Her office did mention that schools will have some say in how they handle the new rule, including where to stash students’ gadgets during the school day. They’re also planning on making exceptions for students who might need their phones for medical reasons, learning disabilities, or language barriers.
If this plan gets the green light, New York would be joining the ranks of at least eight other states that have already put the kibosh on or limited cellphone use in schools. Most schools across the nation already have rules against using phones for anything other than schoolwork, but it’s tough to enforce those rules when kids are allowed to have their devices on them in the hallways and during lunch.
This “bell-to-bell” ban that Hochul is talking about would cut out the distraction completely by keeping phones out of reach during school hours. Some parents might not be too thrilled about this, though, since they like being able to get in touch with their kids in case of an emergency.
New York City, which has the biggest school district in the country, thought about banning cellphones last year but backed off because parents weren’t too keen on the idea. Lawmakers are gearing up to vote on the whopping $254 billion state budget this week, which includes this cellphone ban.
So get ready, students of New York – you might have to part ways with your beloved phones sooner rather than later.
