New York City Public Schools Chancellor Considers Cellphone Ban, Calling Devices ‘Real Distraction in Schools’

A cellphone ban in New York City public schools could go into effect as early as next school year, Chancellor David Banks told ABC News on Sunday.

Banks told ABC’s Bill Ritter that he thinks very seriously about the issue and talks to parents, teachers and even students about it.

“I will tell you absolutely that we have seen these phones as a real distraction in schools,” Banks said. “I don’t see any good use for kids with phones during the school day, and we think it has contributed to a lot of negative behavior.”

Banks said he believes children’s phone addiction is a societal problem and believes putting phones in the hands of young children with developing brains leads to “complete addiction.”

“There was a time when you would call the school if you had an emergency,” Banks said. “We have parents who are texting their kids all day, every day. It’s completely irresponsible; your kids should be in class; they should be learning; they should be focused on their schoolwork.”

Banks recounted a recent meeting with a school principal who said the number of incidents at her school had dropped by 48% because students could not use phones to make appointments after school hours.

“We are watching it very closely and will have something to say very soon,” Banks said.

In May, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced she was considering banning smartphones in schools as several state officials sought to protect children from social media platforms and their impact on youth mental health, according to a report.

Hochul said she plans to introduce a bill later this year that would ban smartphones in schools. If passed, it would mean kids would be allowed to carry cellphones — not smartphones — that don’t have internet access but can send text messages.

“I say leave our kids alone,” Hochul told MSNBC. “Let them socialize. They can talk to their friends, but stop doing that. Stop selling our kids’ personal information for your own financial gain. And parents should be able to turn it off at midnight, let their kids go to bed by 6 a.m., because otherwise they’re going to go to that place all night and they’re going to be exhausted.”