Two governors along the East Coast are taking steps to limit smartphone use in schools. New Jersey and New York are considering new policies aimed at reducing distractions in the classroom.
States who have issued bans have distinguished between smartphones like iPhones and basic cellular phones that can only call or text.
In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy has voiced strong support for a bill moving through the state legislature that would ban phones in public schools. Murphy has said the devices have become a growing distraction in classrooms, impacting students’ ability to focus and retain information.
“They are fueling a rise in cyberbullying. And they are making it incredibly difficult for our kids, not only to learn, but to retain the substance of what they learn,” Murphy said in his State of the State address. “Honestly, is it any surprise that the rise in smartphone usage has coincided with a growing youth mental health crisis?”
The bill has already passed the state Senate unanimously. It would require New Jersey’s Department of Education to set a policy on smartphone and social media use in all public schools. Including elementary, middle and high schools, districts would be required to adopt the policy if passed.
Just across the state line, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is taking similar steps. Hochul announced that the next state budget would include a plan to create a “distraction-free learning environment.” It would likely include restrictions on smartphone use during school hours.
“Young people succeed in the classroom when they’re learning and growing—not clicking and scrolling,” Hochul said in a statement.
The New York State Teachers Union is working with Hochul’s administration to develop a policy that could include keeping phones out of reach from the start of the school day until dismissal.
The details of the policy are still being worked out, but the idea is gaining traction among educators and policymakers.
However, parents in both states are raising concerns about the potential downsides of a cell phone ban, particularly in the case of emergencies. Some worry their children may need to have access to their phones to contact them during critical situations.
Many school districts in both New Jersey and New York have already implemented their own policies to limit cell phone use during school hours. However, these measures have not been uniform across the region.
