LACKAWANNA, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Lackawanna City School District announced it will implement a "no cell phone/electronics" policy during the school day for all students in grades 6-12 for the 2024-25 school year.
"We need to do something and research has shown that schools that consistently restrict cell phones during the day, their students do better in every area academically, socially and emotionally and as adults, we have to try something," Superintendent Nadia Nashir explained.
Starting this fall, the #Lackawanna City School District will roll out with a no cell phone/electronics policy. It’s to create a better environment for students in academics and their well-being. I’ll explain how the district plans to do so by providing these lockable phone bags. pic.twitter.com/WMLHEkKPb2
— Pheben Kassahun WKBW (@PhebenKassahun) August 6, 2024
According to the district, it will provide secure, lockable phone bags for all students. The students will place their phones in the bags at the beginning of the day. The bags will be locked and in their possession throughout the day. At the end of the day, the bags will be unlocked.
The district also asked parents to discuss the new policy with their children and encourage them to embrace it.
"If we need to make improvements. Our goal right now is to help our students make the decision that the phones should be turned off during the day," Nashir added.
New York State Assemblyman Patrick Burke said as a former professor at Buffalo State and a parent himself, he sees the benefits this cell phone ban will have.
"The algorithms that keep people's attention, that gives those kids dopamine. That gives everyone. We have a society that's addicted to phones but how can kids learn and teachers teach when they're playing with their phones all day," Assemblyman Burke said.
Youth leader and behavior health specialist Faheem Bell shares the same view as Burke.
"Even though these cell phones connect us to the world, I wouldn't have a problem if it was so much just at lunchtime they were able to use them but during regular school hours, during the hours of teaching and instruction, absolutely not. It's a total distraction," Bell said.
We also spoke with two parents, one is in favor of the policy and another is on the fence.
Jessica Altmann's daughter will be in 7th grade this fall and she loves the idea because she feels kids pull their phones out constantly.
"Kids don't know what it's like to not have that in their hands," Altman said. "In the real world, when they get to a job, they can't have that in their hand all the time and they don't know how to function without it at this point in life."
Amanda Wheeler is on the fence. She said her son had some issues this past school year in middle school involving another student recording him during a moment he thought was private.
"My initial response is good. That won't be an issue," Wheeler said. "At the same time, I know emergencies come up. We've had gas leaks a couple times in our district this past year. Sometimes we don't even know the issue has happened until it's already done because admin is taking care of what they need to take care of in the moment."
She said her son is a National Honor Society student, so academically, the phones do not affect him.
"I just think if there was more limitations during school during class, instructional hours, then maybe that could be a middle ground," Wheeler added.
Town hall meetings will be held to help parents and guardians learn more about the policy:
- Monday, August 19, at 9:30 a.m. in the High School/Middle School library
- Thursday, August 29, at 6:00 p.m. in the High School cafeteria
This is a topic we have discussed a lot recently as New York Governor Kathy Hochul continues to consider a smartphone ban in New York schools.
On July 24, Hochul held her fourth roundtable discussion at the Kenmore Junior/Senior High School as she continues to consider drafting potential legislation that could ban all phones from classrooms across the state.
We have also spoken to other schools and districts that have already implemented a no-phone policy.
Some schools, including Gaskill Preparatory School in the Niagara Falls City School District, do not allow students to bring a phone into the classroom.
Educators in Dunkirk have tried several ideas to get students to stop looking at their devices. The latest is a little pouch next to students' desks where they place their phones throughout instruction.
