‘We’re Not There Yet,’ Eric Adams Says of NYC-Wide School Cell Phone Ban
By Michael Elsen-Rooney, Chalkbeat,
2024-08-27
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Mayor Eric Adams poured cold water Tuesday on an imminent citywide school cell phone ban, citing a number of remaining obstacles and saying the city is “not there yet.“
“There will be some action in the upcoming school year, but the extent of a full ban, we’re not there yet. We want to make sure we have parents on board,” Adams said at a press briefing Tuesday in response to a question from Chalkbeat.
“The previous administration attempted to do this, and they had to roll back,” Adams added, referencing a previous cell phone ban instituted by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, then overturned by his successor, former Mayor Bill de Blasio. “I don’t want to go backwards after we make a determination.”
Adams’ comments significantly dial back the message that schools Chancellor David Banks offered just months ago about the likelihood of a citywide school cell phone ban.
“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 on June 26.
“Once you use…the terminology that it is a full ban coming from the chancellor, there’s a lot of things that will kick into play, including [United Federation of Teachers],” Adams said Tuesday. “Who pays for the pouches? What mechanism is being used? So we’ve been doing a lot of reviews.”
Some educators and advocates have also raised questions about if and how the Education Department will offer schools guidance on discipline for students who don’t comply.
Several principals familiar with Education Department plans told Chalkbeat last month that education officials were floating a plan to have a ban take effect in February, though it’s unclear whether that timeline is still under consideration.
States and districts across the country have moved towards mandating cell phone bans amid rising concerns about their role in distracting students during class and harming kids’ mental health. New York governor Kathy Hochul is also considering taking statewide action and is currently soliciting input.
Hundreds of New York City schools already have their own cell phone bans. Many use Yondr, a company that produces magnetized cloth pouches that can be locked and unlocked by schools for students to store cell phones during the school day. But such systems can be expensive, and one of the big open questions about a citywide cell phone ban is whether the city would provide extra funding to schools to help collect phones.
Many other city schools that historically have not fully banned phones are moving towards adopting their own cell phone-free policies, but enforcing those policies comes with significant logistical challenges and staffing needs.
Passing a systemwide school cell phone ban would also require changing the chancellor’s regulations, which would need approval from the Panel for Educational Policy, according to a source familiar with the deliberations.
Adams said the city is trying to learn from the approaches of city schools that have their own cell phone bans and are enforcing them effectively.
“We’re learning from those who are already doing it,” Adams said. “We do have schools in the city that are doing it on their own, and so we want to make sure we get it right.”
Julian Shen-Berro contributed.
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My kids my rules and I will discipline and rise my kids the way I want it. BTW kids are not using cell phones in the classrooms because the teachers collect them or they have special box to put the phones away so this looks like another bs they want to take all the control it will not happen. Parents need to be able to check where their kids are after they leave school and some kids are taking subways or busses to get home so I don't think banning the cell phones is really smart thing to do it will be a big problem if it will go through. most parents will not be happy about it.
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