On March 11, 2025, New York Governor Kathy Hochul convened a Youth Mental Health roundtable to promote her initiative for a "bell-to-bell" ban on cell phones in schools. Supported by educators and parents, this proposal aims to eliminate smartphone distractions during the school day. Hochul emphasized the need for students to engage actively with teachers and peers rather than being consumed by their devices. Legislators are currently discussing the logistics of the ban while seeking input from different school districts to find a suitable approach by the impending budget deadline on April 1.
"What a radical concept: the thought that students should be there paying attention to their teachers and interacting with each other and not these all day long phenomenally destructive distractions which have now taken over children's childhood and also the classroom environment."
"There are districts that have gone ahead and done different things that they feel are working, from superintendents who want a little bit of flexibility. So, we have injected that into the conversation as well. There is no doubt that we know that students will be better off if their phones are not with them and they're able to concentrate on their lessons."
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