There are certain traditions characteristic of the first day of school: a steady stream of confused freshmen wandering the halls, teachers introducing themselves, and a general feel of anticipation for the new year. However, one thing has proven to be different this year. It’s strikingly obvious in the hallways, in classrooms, even in the cafeteria. No one seems to be on their phones.
This isn’t a sudden change of heart among students. This is the result of state legislation targeting the use of cell phones and other electronic devices in schools. Signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul in May of this year, Chancellor’s Regulation A-413 Cell Phones and Other Electronic Devices in Schools is a new policy that intends to change the way the education system works around phones.
While schools had previously been given free rein to set cell phone policies, and Fort Hamilton had allowed students to use cell phones in an educational way, the new policy outright bans them altogether. From the beginning to the end of an instructional day (from 7:20 am to 4:00 pm at Fort Hamilton, specifically), all electronic devices that can connect to the Internet must be away in each student’s allotted pouch. This includes not only cell phones, but also smartwatches, laptops and any personal device capable of connecting to the internet. While this may immediately alarm those who need it, there are exceptions made regarding how the rule is enforced, although these exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis and are few and far between.
This change has not been limited to Fort Hamilton, or even New York state. Over 30 states have implemented such a ban, reflecting a growing anxiety around the country about the impact cellular devices (and unfettered access to social media) have on the developing adolescent mind. Even before the advancements that we recognize as commonplace today (the iPhone, the Meta Glasses, etc.), there has been a struggle between students who wish to keep their property within their grasp and the teachers who feel it is disruptive to learning.
The new policy is as follows: Prior to entering the building, students must deposit their electronic devices into their pouches. Pouches must be presented to deans and building supervisors as they swipe in with their IDs. If students lose their pouch, they incur a fee of $10 to purchase a new one. Students are also required to bring a bag with them every single day to Fort Hamilton in order for them to store the pouch in it during school hours. Students who violate the policy are given a “strike,” and after five “strikes,” their devices might be confiscated every day for the remainder of the school year and returned at the end of each instructional day.
This approach to the ban addresses key concerns about safety in case of emergency. The pouches are secured by a velcro seal, and phones can be accessed in the event of an emergency. Still, in the event that a parent needs to contact their child, they are encouraged to call the main office or a guidance counselor, who will then summon the student from class to speak to their parent, rather than send their child a text.
One of the core tenets behind this ban is that it will create a more suitable learning environment for students. Mr. DiBisceglie, a dean and AP Government teacher at Fort Hamilton, is particularly familiar with student behavior as he’s monitored halls over the years. He has had his fair share of encounters with cell phone abuse and has taken measures to address it. One would expect his duties to be relieved with this recent ban, but that has not been the case.
“As a dean, since the cell phone ban, most of what I do in the hallway is the same, but about twice a week I will see a student with the phone out and I will address it,” he said. “Even the students committing the infraction are fully aware of the rules.”
But this lack of change concerning general student behavior has not extended into the classroom. As an AP United States Government and Politics teacher, Mr. DiBisceglie has seen the promised benefits of the ban, from students paying greater attention to lessons to an increase in test grades compared to last year.
“I even have more students doing homework which might be indirectly related to the cell phone ban,” he said.
This phone ban may not have been as sudden as students might expect. Thomas Georgiadis, a freshman at Fort Hamilton, grew accustomed to the routine in his middle school, which began implementing a ban midway through his final year, but “they didn’t really check pouches, so people still were on their phones,” he said. Georgiadis was not particularly fazed by the ban, as he had mainly utilized his device for emergencies or to take photos. He understands the intention behind this ruling, that the school is intending to help students prioritize “focusing more in class and getting [their] grades up.”
The ban seems unlikely to change as more schools are increasingly adopting such policies and 74% of US adults have voiced support for an in-class cell phone ban. With the advent of these new policies marks a pivotal moment in education. Only one thing is for certain, for the thousands of students in Fort Hamilton and across New York, this is a question that they can’t search up the answer to. Not on their phones, at least.
