School officials react to Hochul's consideration of statewide ban of smartphones in schools

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - New York Gov. Kathy Hochul took action against social media earlier this month, signing legislation aimed at curbing addictive content algorithms to minors in hopes of combatting the growing youth mental health crisis.

Now, Hochul is considering a statewide ban on smartphone use for kids in public schools.

What do local school officials think of a statewide ban of smartphones?

Hamburg Central Schools Superintendent and President of the Erie-Niagara Superintendents Association Michael Cornell appreciates the governor's concern with the mental health of the youth, as he notes excessive smartphone and social media use have growing negative consequences for minors. However, he believes the decision to prohibit students from accessing their smartphones in schools should be a decision made by the schools themselves.

"One of the things I think we've learned over time is that when you give schools the resources and guidance around things that are important, we then do a very good job of exercising discretion around how to implement those things in our school districts. If the school district wants to ban cell phones, they should be free to do that, but I don't know that we should be required to ban them," said Cornell with WBEN.

Cornell notes that many elementary schools have a no cell phone policy and some middle schools require them to be turned off and kept in their locker.

Niagara Falls City Schools Superintendent Mark Laurrie has concerns with how a statewide ban would be implemented, and how it would work with districts of various sizes.

"There is no doubt that cell phones in school are a major distraction, a major issue with respect to student's mental health and a sometimes major obstacle in a kid's ability to focus. The concern that I have, however, is the implementation of how that kind of a law or ban would be would be put in play, we have a really good situation here at Niagara Falls in our elementary and our middle schools, where it becomes a very, very difficult implementation point is that our Niagara Falls High School, where we have 2,000 students," said Laurrie.

"I appreciate the governor's strong stance on the ban, but I also think that when it comes to implementation and how we carry things out, local districts really need to have some autonomy and how to do that, because there is such a wide disparity between Niagara Falls High School, a school of 2000 students, and a smaller district that may have a high school of 150 kids, and there's a definite difference in how that would be implemented."

Cornell notes it would be "extremely challenging" to enforce a ban and Laurrie notes that many students would be upset when they hear word of a ban of their phones in schools.

"We do our best to have that adult presence in hallways and other common areas during passing times and other parts of the day, just as a general safety thing, but that's a safety thing, to make sure there's not bullying going on. We want to make sure if there's like a physical altercation or kids are arguing to make sure that we have adults right there to take care of it," Cornell said. "I don't know that I want those adult eyes averted from actual safety things to then dealing with a kid who has cell phone out. I don't know that that's the best way for us to deploy our resources. But, you know, obviously, if the directive is we have to ban them, we'll follow the directive and do what we have to because that's what we do, but I think a lot of school leaders would prefer to have the discretion to ban them if they want to do that."

Many top school officials across the country are now implementing or at least considering how to turn off phones the right way.

Chalkbeat New York reports New York City schools Chancellor David Banks may announce a cell phone ban for the nation’s largest school district “within the next two weeks,” based on what he told reporters on Wednesday.

"You’re going to hear, within the next two weeks, the big announcement, but I will tell you we are very much leaning towards banning cell phones," Banks said, as kids were dismissed for the last day of school. "We’re working out the kinks on this, and we want to make sure that we do it right."

Last week, the Los Angeles Unified School District became the largest district in the country to approve a districtwide cellphone ban.

Cornell and Laurrie think that the attention being brought to the issue of youth mental health could present an opportunity for parents and students to learn more about the harmful consequences of excess social media and cell phone use, which could potentially sway some kids to consider moderating their habits.

"What I think is really required here is a massive, massive education effort for kids and families regarding cell phone use, regarding the effects of social media and their risks, the risk doesn't always result in harm, we know that from the research, but the risks are undeniable. We need to teach the basics rules of civility, which, I think, have gone out the window in terms of how people interact with each other on social media," Cornell noted.

"People say things on social media, they would never say to somebody in person. So, you know, I think that's something to talk about. We need to teach kids time and place. Employers and colleges are not going to ban cell phones, they're going to have to be respectful of other people's rules and norms regarding cell phone use. Kids are going to have to learn how to exercise judgment about when is it appropriate for me to use my phone and not use my phone."

Hochul would introduce legislation in the next legislative session. However, before she drafts legislation, she would continue to have discussions with parent groups, school officials and other education experts prior to.