Gov. Kathy Hochul's 'bell-to-bell' ban on smartphone use in schools has been challenged by state Senate Democrats who suggest less restrictive regulations. Hochul's initiative aims for an outright ban during school hours, while the Senate's revision permits usage outside of instructional time, leaving decisions to individual districts. Advocates express disappointment, emphasizing that protecting children's mental health requires strict policies. Hochul firmly believes in the necessity of this ban to prevent classroom distractions, with widespread support from experts, parents, and educators for the comprehensive approach.
We are very disappointed by the NY State Senate watering down the Governor's cell phone proposal to make it almost meaningless, said Phone Free NY founder Raj Goyle.
Allowing students to use their phones outside class will cause disruptions in the classroom, the governor said.
This is what the experts say, this is what the parents want, this is what the teachers want, Hochul said.
It'll be wildly, wildly distracting, she said.
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