Before the anticipated statewide ban on cell phones in New York State was put into effect, some schools had already prohibited students from using phones on campus. Despite sparking initial backlash, the situation eventually turned around, with students shifting from hating the measure to embracing it.
According to Bloomberg, at a high school in northern New York that banned cell phone use, children tried to break open locks to retrieve their phones. In a school in the Bronx, students even planned a protest against the ban. However, ultimately, the students’ attitudes changed, and they began to accept the prohibition.
Monica Samuels, principal of KIPP NYC College Prep High School in the Bronx, stated that at her school, scores on Advanced Placement (AP) exams had improved, returning to pre-pandemic levels. Some students even privately thanked her for implementing the ban, as it helped them focus better. Outside of classes, there were noticeable changes, with a 50% increase in attendance at sports events and other activities.
At Newburgh Free Academy in northern New York, student engagement in classes increased after students gave up cell phone use.
Kate Sinnott, a math teacher in Newburgh for 16 years, remarked, “In our classes, when you talk to them, their attention is on you.”
Sinnott noted that previously, students would be busy on their phones during class.
These two schools provide a glimpse into what might happen following the implementation of a cell phone ban in the nation’s largest school district, New York City. Earlier, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced plans to introduce legislation at the state legislature meeting in January 2025, proposing a statewide ban on cell phone use by students on school premises.
Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio urged schools in the city to prohibit student cell phone use in a Bloomberg column in June, citing their “destructive impact on learning.”
According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 70% of high school teachers and one-third of middle school teachers reported that student attention was significantly disrupted by cell phones, a major issue in their classrooms.
However, there is hope for resolving this issue. Principal Samuels of KIPP NYC College Prep High School mentioned that less than a year after the cell phone ban was implemented, students’ academic performance had significantly improved.