Classroom cellphone ban could come to New York

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (WCAX) - New York could soon join a handful of states that have banned cellphones in classrooms as Gov. Kathy Hochul begins the process of crafting a proposal for state lawmakers.

In a speech this week, Hochul pointed to mounting concerns over students’ mental health, their ability to stay focused in the classroom and the rise of fights between students due to social media.

Hochul is currently on a statewide listening tour to get feedback from families and school officials on a path forward for a potential ban.

She says roughly 72% of teachers from across the country report cellphones hinder students’ ability to learn in the classroom.

“I think that students have a tendency to grossly misuse them and that leads to overall less productivity in classrooms,” said Rachel Finley, a senior at Beekmantown High School.

Finley says she recognizes how cellphones can distract her fellow students, but adds she’s worried a potential ban in the classroom could create problems during public safety emergencies.

“My biggest concern would be school shootings, overall just because of the fact there have been threats at Beekmantown before, and it’s not an irregular thing for students to joke about that, even though it’s not a joke,” said Finley.

Others say parents could still contact their kids by calling the school office.

Francesca Bieber works at the high school in Plattsburgh and says she believes more can be done, but recognizes why parents may not want a classroom phone ban.

“I think there is some pushback by parents and I think that local administrators are a little concerned about that,” said Bieber.

However, North Country Democratic Assemblyman Billy Jones said he would support some kind of legislative action.

“I’m a parent myself of an 11-year-old and kids get caught up in this, and they can get into some really bad places on the internet, quite frankly, where we should be doing something about that,” said Jones, D-Chateaugay Lake.

Plattsburgh’s Superintendent Jay Lebrun says the district has a cellphone policy already, but calls it imperfect. He says he hopes for a policy that gives districts a consistent set of rules.

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