New York’s classroom phone ban will affect around 915,000 students citywide. PHOTO: John Minchillo/AP

New rule purportedly backed by medical experts with NO public hearing or vote – will affect 915,000 students in America’s largest school system.

Unsigned Article | DailyTelegraph.com

Schools in New York City are planning to ban the use of mobile phones amid concerns over children’s mental health.

America’s largest schools system announced the move on Wednesday following a detailed consultation with medical professionals.

“Our kids are fully addicted to these phones, we’ve got to do something about it,” said David Banks, New York City schools chancellor, in an interview with broadcaster NY1.

He said the new rules, which will be announced in full next month, will affect around 915,000 students.

In a bid to ease fears of parents being unable to contact their children, Mr Banks said the new rules would allow devices in school grounds but their use would not be permitted during school hours.

“We want you to be able to bring your phone to school because the minute that school is over, you need to be in communication with your family,” he said.

The ban is a significant departure from existing rules which allow individual head teachers to set their own mobile phone policy.

As a result, New York schools have employed a variety of approaches with some collecting phones at the start of the day or others instructing students to put their devices in lockable pouches.

In 2015, then New York mayor Bill de Blasio scrapped an outright ban on mobile phones in the city’s schools implemented by his predecessor Michael Bloomberg.

At the time, he said it was unfair to pass on costs relating to the law to families in low-income communities.

Mr Banks said the new plan would not mean any additional costs for students. “We don’t want kids to have to pay a dollar to leave their phone in a bodega across the street,” he added.

Kathy Hochul, the Democrat governor of New York, is planning to follow the city’s lead by proposing new legislation that would prohibit smartphones in schools across the whole state.

In California, Gavin Newsom, the Democrat governor, last week promised to limit the use of smartphones during the school day.

The school board in Los Angeles – the second biggest school district in the country behind New York city – also recently approved restrictions that will go into effect in January.

Ron DeSantis, the Republican governor of Florida, signed a similar measure into law last year. ##