PLATTSBURGH — At least four area school districts are joining the national movement to ban, or further restrict, student use of cell phones in classrooms.
“Schools must provide a safe and positive learning environment for all students. Cell phones have undermined the educational experience where students can no longer focus for more than short periods of time,” Jamie LaBarge, principal at Stafford Middle School in the Plattsburgh City School District, said.
POLICIES
Under the district’s new policy, students at Stafford Middle School will be required to leave cell phones in their lockers during the school day.
Previously, students could keep cell phones with them, but were not allowed to use them during the school day.
“We’ve found that the temptation to use these devices is simply too great, and that sequestering them in student lockers is a necessary, appropriate update to the code,” Superintendent Jay Lebrun said.
At Plattsburgh High School, students may keep cell phones in their back packs, but are only allowed to use them at lunch time.
High school students are prohibited from using them during class or when in school hallways.
At Beekmantown Central School, cell phones have been banned in secondary classrooms during the school day.
“All students will be required to store their personal electronic devices in their assigned lockers for the instructional day,” said school Superintendent Dustin Relation.
It is not a new policy, per se, but an updating of policy so that policy in all secondary schools is consistent, Relation said.
Accommodations have been made for students with specific Individual Education Programs or 504 learning disabilities, and exceptions will be made for students who need to carry their phones for particular reasons, such as monitoring glucose levels.
“This alignment supports our mission to educate every individual to be a quality contributor to society and self by promoting an environment where students can focus on their education,” Relation said.
Saranac Central School in Dannemora also has tightened student cell phone policy for the upcoming school year, and Lake Placid Central School this year extended a previous ban on cell phones in the elementary and middle schools to include the high school.
Saranac Central, in collaboration with several other school districts, is holding a a community educational event at 6 p.m. on Sept. 26 at The Strand Center for the Arts in Plattsburgh.
The documentary ”Screenagers: Growing Up in The Digital Age” will be shown.
The documentary explores the dangers of overuse of cell phones for social networking and video games and offers ways that families can address the conflict.
Physician/filmmaker Delaney Ruskin was inspired to produce the documentary after dealing with cell phone use by her two children.
The documentary has been shown more than 8,000 times to about 4 million people.
After the documentary, Dr. Aron Steward, chief of psychology at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, and Chris Smith, an FBI task force officer from Albany, will speak and answer questions.
The event is open to the public free of charge.
“The Strand has graciously donated their venue and we are using a grant we recently secured for addition expenses,” said Alison Rosenbaum, guidance counselor at Saranac High School.
DISCUSSIONS
Policy changes at local schools come as Gov. Hochul has been conducting a series of roundtable discussions this summer in different regions of the state about cell phone use in class rooms.
“My top priority is protecting New Yorkers and right now our kids need our help,” Hochul said, in a news release. “They are in a dark place, feeling depressed and anxious. We have to stop them from scrolling their lives away and get them back to experiencing the joy of being kids.”
Hochul said at the Western New York round table at Kenmore Junior-Senior High School at Tonawanda in July that children and teens coming out the COVID-19 pandemic had become more addicted to cell phone use than adults.
“The young people in lunch time are not talking to the person sitting next to them. They’re talking to someone far away,” she said in remarks video-taped at the round table and posted on the governor’s website. “They’re not even making eye contact or connecting. This is not good for their mental health. It is not good for them to emerge as fully functioning adults.”
Hochul is expected to propose legislation next session to establish a state policy on student cell phone use.
“If there is going to be a next step, which I expect there will be, our Legislature is very important to this,” Hochul said.
At least eight other states have banned cell phone use in the classrooms, according to the New York Times.
Large urban districts, too, are concerned.
The Los Angeles City School District recently banned cell phones in classrooms, and New York City Mayor Adams is considering reinstating a previous ban in city schools.
NATIONAL ISSUE
At the national level, the House Education Committee, of which U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, is a member, is considering bipartisan legislation which Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-AR, introduced in July to direct the Secretary of Education to conduct a study about student cell phone use in schools and to establish a demonstration grant program to “create a school environment” without cell phones.
The legislation – HR8993 — had seven co-sponsors, 4 Republicans and 3 Democrats, none from New York, as of Aug. 31.
The legislation is a companion to Senate legislation which Sens. Tom Cotton, R-AR, and Tim Kaine, D-VA., introduced in 2023.
Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance is a cosponsor of the Senate legislation.
Educators say that cell phone use distracts from learning, and contributes to bullying, depression, isolation and cell phone addiction.
In a recent Pew Research Center survey, 72% of high school teachers, 33% of middle school teachers and 6% of elementary teachers said cell phone distraction was a challenge in class rooms.
A United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization study in 2023 concluded that it takes a student’s brain 20 minutes to refocus after a 10-second cell phone interaction.
“The body of evidence about the detrimental effects of constant access to cell phones and social media for youth is clear and growing,” said Lebrun, of the Plattsburg City School District. “Beyond removing an obvious distraction from the learning process, this cell phone ‘diet’ will limit access to a proven source of stress, anxiety, and conflict.”
Lebrun said faculty and staff have recognized that use of cell phones and social media the past few years has contributed to an increase in distraction and behavior issues.
“Emerging research about brain development supports non-constant access to cell phones and social media platforms for students, particularly at the middle school level, he said.
Lebrun said district administrators and teachers were particularly enlightened by the research of Jonathan Haidt, author of the book “The Anxious Generation,” which describes “phone-based childhood” and the “great rewiring of childhood.”
Haidt connects cell phone and social media addiction with sleep deprivation, attention fragmentation, loneliness, and perfectionism.
“Jonathon Haidt states in ‘The Anxious Generation’ social media use does not just correlate with mental illness it causes it,” said Labarge, the Stafford Middle School principal.
“Students are reporting that they are on their social media sites 8-12 hours a day, if we can take the addiction away from the students for 6 hours a day, and provide activity breaks, it will help fight the addiction,” she said.
“These expectations support our vision to provide our students with world-class educational opportunities, ensuring that they can develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. Limiting cell phone use will also encourage stronger connections with peers and teachers, further enhancing the learning environment,” said Relation, of the Beekmantown Central School District.
Some education experts, however, say that instead of banning cell phones, educators should develop ways to integrate cell phones in the educational process.
School superintendents said they expect some controversy from parents and students.
“The basis for this change is sound and well-supported by research, so we’re hoping that ongoing education about this topic will address any concerns which arise,” Lebrun said.
“As with any updates to expectations, we anticipate there may be questions that arise. We are committed to maintaining open lines of communication with our school community to address any concerns and ensure that everyone understands the rationale behind our decision,” Relation said. “Our focus remains on creating a positive learning environment where students can thrive and be the best version of themselves.”