As a student, I really don’t mind the cellphone ban. So far, it’s been three days without cell phones during the school day, and I’ve noticed that students are actually more focused. However, it’s definitely become a bit more awkward for some students that don’t like discussing things with their peers. Most students seem to be upset by this ban, but they can’t really do anything about it. Parents also seem to be upset by this ban because they cannot contact their child during the school day. There might be a family emergency or an emergency at school, and they won’t be able to check on their child. This a considerable issue given that there have been a large number of school shootings just in 2025 alone. I think that before banning phones we should try to lessen the number of school shootings happening in America. Parents should be able to reach their children in case of an emergency. Teachers seem to be happy with the ban as students are now more engaged in lessons. This is a little ironic because I’ve seen a number of teachers checking their phones during a lesson they’re teaching. I think the cellphone ban should apply to everyone during the school day, including staff.

The Cell Phone Ban has risen to one of New York’s hottest topics as of recently, and rightfully so.

In my entire school career I have never been forced to conceal my phone, so this decision made by New York State was abnormal to me at first, but I have gotten used to it.

Contrary to other people’s beliefs, I am unbothered by the Cell Phone Ban, I believe that it was a good decision that will benefit students in the future as well as the present. 

It’s clear that most students are addicted to their phones, which then causes them to lose focus and interest in school. But with the phone ban in place, students are forced to try and pay attention in school which will help them realize that school is not so bad.

I was a little skeptical going to school the first day because I didn’t know if I would thrive with the phone ban, but I am relieved to say that through the first week of school, I have not had a problem or urge to go on my phone.

However, I am aware that my opinion is not the only opinion perceived by many. Most students, parents, and teachers are skeptical about the Cell Phone Ban. Students have no way to contact their parents without going to the main office and possibly waiting in a long line, parents have no way to contact their kids in a short period of time, and some teachers use their phones to conduct a lesson or use it as a tool for a lesson.

While all of these concerns are valid, I believe that people will come to realize that these concerns are fixable and not life changing. But nonetheless, we are going through a very controversial change in schooling for the future.

Personally as a student in my junior year of high school, I didn’t hate the idea of the cell phone ban when it first was announced and had a chance of becoming a law for schools. Throughout my time in school in general, I have basically seen phones used every day and become so normalized to use even when it was time to learn in class. So when the idea of actually having it mandatory for phones to stay away I kind of liked it. So much of my generation’s worries are online nowadays and what people may be thinking of you. I’ve seen this in others and in myself of how parasocial you can get if you can’t stop thinking about anything other than your phone. I think as well that it’s more known than ever now that the phone is addictive. You can even see this is adults and not just kids. So once again, I thought this ban could remove some of that fear of not always having your phone on your desk and put it away for a big chunk of time. However, I can also see the drawbacks from getting rid of the phone. Now with the administration also banning any video from Youtube, kids that listen to music to focus on their work lose that ability to listen to music so easily. As well as the worry of parents who may need to contact their kid about something whether it’s coming home or that they need to tell their kid something personal, that ability is now gone and can’t be accessed. For me, I have two major problems with the ban, the first is the ability to not be able to use your phone in an emergency since it’ll have to be in your locker. My second complaint is that you won’t be able to use your phone during lunch or study hall. With emergency, school shootings and intruders entering schools aren’t something that a school can’t track when or how it will happen. During those attacks, it bothers me personally that the only thing the school will do is alert parents because those parents would want to hear from their kid in that school and ask them what is happening. For all the school knows it could end with a life being taken and that kid not being able to tell their parents or whoever via their phone really I think it is poor thinking. As well as not being able to use phones during study hall or lunch I think is a little dumb because even though yes it is good to get kids socializing in lunch, again that doesn’t account for the kids that have social anxiety and use their lunch period to just sit on their phone and maybe text their friends. Study hall I found even stranger because study hall is a class you can have in the morning and if you have no work then the only thing that will probably be done is sleep. Even with my negative complaints, I understand why this is in effect. Personally I just feel a little more sorry to the seniors this year that their last year was hit by something like this. 

As many already know, New York State has a new law which is a bell-to-bell no cellphone policy. This means that from the start of first period all the way from the end of ninth period, students are not allowed to be on their phones, or if your school has lockers you are not allowed to even have it on you. Though this was passed because they want students to connect more, and to help their education without distractions, there are some worries that have arisen countrywide, as New York is not the only state with this law. The number one worry by students, alongside with their parents, is what if something happens and they need to call? If there is a shooting, or an intruder in the school, you will want to be able to contact your loved ones. It’s an unfortunate, but very likely situation that sadly happens in schools everywhere. Personally I agree with most students on this. Students overall take on this has been negative, most of us understand why but do not agree a full ban, even during lunch is necessary. Lunch is our free time and we should be able to spend it how we would like to, especially since not everyone has someone to sit with, it may be awkward to sit there and do nothing. Parents have had mixed opinions though, some have agreed as they believe it will help enhance their children’s education, whereas others agree with the students, and have safety concerns. Teachers on the other hand mostly agree with this law, having to try doing their job, spending hours on making assignments and work just to see it go unnoticed because students on their phones have become very frustrating, and they are happy to see the phones go. But with everything said and done, what are your opinions on this new law?

The NY cell phone ban is new for a lot of people. It’s making many parents feel unsure and many more students frustrated. I don’t mind the ban all too much, however I think I would be more comfortable with it if I was able to put my phone in my bag instead of my locker. I think many students dislike the ban and will find creative ways to get around it. I also think some parents respect the ban and other parents are uncomfortable with it. Most teachers are probably fine with the ban even though they have to follow the ban as well. I’ve seen a couple of teachers with their heads in their phones, whether it’s in the middle of the hallway or while the class is finishing work. If I didn’t have my phone from bell to bell, my day would look pretty much the same as if I did have my phone

NYS has established a cell phone ban for the current school year affecting K-12 schools, charter schools, and BOCES. In my experience, I haven’t had any issues with this mandate. In fact it has been good overall for me. At lunch, last year when me and my friends sat down after we’d gotten our food, there were always the two who’d immediately get on their phones and consequently not talk or interact with the rest of the table as a result. I sit with new people this year, but none of them are absorbed into their phones while we’re doing something or just talking and that’s a win for me. Other than my opinion on the matter I think that the majority of students feel that the cell phone ban will restrict them from long distance communication in an emergency and are upset because they also are unable to use them for entertainment in lunch.

Two other groups that might feel strongly about the cell phone ban would be the parents of students and the teachers. I think that the majority of teachers and parents will be with the new cell phone ban because your phone can distract you from a lesson. Despite this most parents are also concerned with their children not being able to speak with them in an emergency or call for help. In conclusion I think that the cell phone ban is something that can be seen from many different viewpoints, this is something that will affect everyone connected to the school differently depending on who you are and what happens in the future

I believe the NY cell phone ban is leaning towards positive effects on students, but there are many negative factors that people also consider. Personally, I don’t like it, but the phone ban was meant to get student’s full attention in classes, which would be beneficial to grades and possibly length of attention span. This ban has already shown results and students have increased numbers in grades. There are many reasons people have issues with this ban because of lack of communication outside the school. Examples include parents attempting to inform their children of emergencies, anything health related and so on. I don’t really like this ban, but I do think that it’ll help students improve in their education. Working in a less-distracting environment will be beneficial to students and teachers.

This new law impacts students, parents and teachers both negatively and positively. Students would not have access to their cell phones for the entire day, however, this can increase productivity during class. Students will be able to focus on lessons and building peer relationships without distractions. At first, students not having the option of having their phones easily accessible can be uncomfortable. The adjustment may take some time. Some schools have innovative ideas of keeping students “entertained” by providing board games during lunch periods.  On the other hand, parents and teachers are happy since their students are working more effectively and efficiently. My day would not be much of a conflict because I can go to the main office to contact my family in case of any emergency and I don’t depend on my phone for anything. 

What are the positive and negative things about the cell phone ban? Parents may dislike that they can’t reach their kids.  Most kids don’t like it, after the summer of being on your phone most of the day it’s a little hard to not use it for 8 hours. You’ll think about your phone most of the day instead of doing your classwork. You might want to glance at it, when the teacher isn’t looking. Most kids do look at their phones during the day. Lots of kids think we used to be able to have them at lunch. Teachers have different opinions on this. They don’t have to yell in every class to put your phone away and listen, there will be less cheating. But over all most highschoolers understand the phone policy.

Here’s a silly, little, fun fact for you! Naps sometimes do more bad than good. Rather than sleeping for a little while, health experts generally recommend to regulate your sleep cycle half an hour at a time. All those gradual baby steps are far more effective. The same applies for the state cellphone ban. At least, this is from the perspective of someone who never had a phone during both elementary school, middle school, and now high school due to the ban. To take away phone privileges in increments that don’t cause public outrage, would get students, parents, and staff more adapted to using their phone less and less. From not being able to use it during lunch, then not being able to be in plain sight, so on and so forth. Because everything would be done at a slower pace, it would be more apparent when enough is enough. For instance, students should still be able to pull out their phones if they ever want to listen to music, or for calling their parents in case of an emergency, etc. and the cherry on top—it would still reach the same means to an end! There’s a clear reason why the cell phone ban came into effect. So students could focus more on education, so students interact more with their peers, so recordings of private school matters wouldn’t get leaked on social media, so people feel safer attending school. Which, don’t get me wrong, I 100% agree! But, because it has already been decided that no phones are allowed, nearly at any given situation, it makes it more difficult to come up with a solution that doesn’t involve using a student’s personal device. Which will, and has, already caused complaints from parents,  concern from staff members, along with disapproval from students. The limits were set too high, and the consequences are resulting in negative outcomes. Yes, there should be rules and set procedures in an academic building, but there should also be loop-wholes or exceptions to them if anything were to go awry. Of course, God forbid! However, it’s always better to be safe rather than sorry.  

   My feelings about the cell phone ban going into effect are neutral because it doesn’t really affect me, because I don’t really go on my phone in school besides checking the time. I think some students will be a little mad then get over it. And some will find a way around it. I think some teachers will think it is useful and students will get a better grade. While some will  think it is also good and useful and that students can get a better grade. But I do not agree with not being able to use it even during lunch and when there’s no work to be done. I think that students should be able to use their cell phone when they have no work to be done. And I think that parents’ reactions might be a little mixed.Because what if they need to reach their kids or if something happens and they can’t get a hold of their kids.My day would be okay without using my phone. I would just find something else to do like play games on my Chromebook or hangout with friends and do my homework at lunch.

As we all know this school year, new laws have been put in place to not have any phones in school. There was and is a lot of controversy on this topic since students love to use their phones on periods off such as lunch. Some parents are concerned if their kids don’t have their phones, how will they be able to communicate with them in case of an emergency. In case of an emergency, the majority of the time the staff at the school will be able to call home and discuss it then. We have this ban because of Governor Kathy Hochul. She conducted a report surveying schools before and after the ban on cell phones and what it improved. This study showed that this ban caused students to focus more on their classwork and provided a discretion free environment. I believe that this is going to be very beneficial to new students and students that are already in the building. My first day without my phone was just like any other day, I had the urge to check my phone here and there but overall I wasn’t too bothered by it because its the law and I know that it will help me improve on my focusing skills during class.

New York has banned phones in all schools across the state making a hard impact on those who used their phone throughout school. On the other hand, freshmen that have just entered high school aren’t as affected by it. In middle school most kids had a phone, but they never let you use it or have it out. So, the freshmen have never had the chance to use their phone in school like tenth, eleventh, and twelfth graders. I think a lot of students have been affected by it, it’s a very drastic change being able to use your phone one year and the next year you’re not allowed to. Some parents disagree with this law, they want their child to be able to talk to them in case of an emergency. Other parents agree with the law because they want their kid to be focused in school and not be distracted by their phone. If I didn’t have my phone all day in school I think I would be fine just because I never got that chance to use it. I don’t mind the phone ban that much because I know that if I was allowed to use it during school I wouldn’t be focused and I wouldn’t get work done. During lunch instead of being on my phone, I can get my homework done. Teachers mostly like the phone ban because now students don’t have it out in class, but I know some teachers liked having phones because sometimes it would be easier to use instead of the computer. Our principal also does not like the phone ban, he thinks that we should be allowed to use our phones during our free time. He does his best to make school fun and make kids want to go to school, with the phone ban that is hard for him to do. But, he has come up with ways to keep us entertained and having fun, he bought a bunch of games and a foosball table for students to play with during lunch. After everything said and done, I’m okay with not having my phone during school.

My feelings about the cellphone ban in New York State are mixed. I first thought I would be frustrated with the ban, but after thinking longer about it, I’ve realized that this might be a blessing in disguise. So many people in our world are addicted to their phones and I can admit, I’ve fallen victim to this normalized addiction. I believe that this new law is going to be received by students as a shock and will result in anger, sadness, maybe even happiness, etc… This new law can help students connect on a deeper level with their peers. But, on the other hand, this law affects parents in the sense that they can’t reach their children if a dangerous situation happens in schools. In school with no access to my cellphone the entire school day, I would feel the need to use my phone. I believe that over time, me along with my peers, will eventually see we can connect with each other more easily. I can see this ban resulting in a more calm and joyous school environment for students and staff alike. Although it will take time to adjust, this can help create an amazing high school experience.