Phones Are Not the Enemy

I must admit that I am guilty of glancing at my phone when my mind wanders during lessons at school. But it doesn’t take a cell phone to distract me. It’s easy to lose myself in the contemplation of clouds outside the window. And I’m sure I’m not alone. 

Governor Kathy Hochul might ban smartphones in schools across New York state. This is part of her “Get Offline, Get Outside” campaign, which “encourages New York's kids and families to put down their phones and computers [...] and put their mental and physical health first.” Educators and parents alike are supporting Hochul as she considers how strictly she can impose a ban. While prohibiting phones on school grounds seems like a drastic step, students’ current unlimited access to the internet has led to understandable concerns. The negative effects of social media and the distractions posed by cell phones have undoubtedly impacted the learning environment. France and Singapore are among several countries that have implemented bans on cell phones, and sometimes other communications devices, in different grade levels. (Of course, technology is used very differently in high schools than it is in lower level schools.) Within the U.S., several school districts are in the process of banning various devices. The Los Angeles school board, which oversees a school district second in size only to New York City, plans to enact a detailed policy which would ban both smartphones and social media throughout the school day in January. But an outright ban on smartphones, at least in high schools, is a misguided approach that fails to recognize the potential benefits of these devices and the importance of teaching digital responsibility. 

One of the most significant oversights in the push to ban smartphones is that advocates fail to recognize technology’s potentials as powerful educational tools. Smartphones provide instant access to a vast array of educational resources, from online encyclopedias to interactive learning apps. With the proper guidance, students can, and currently do, use these tools to enhance their learning, conduct research, and engage with platforms that can deepen their understanding of complex subjects.

Smartphones also play a crucial role in enhancing privacy and security, particularly through the use of two-factor authentication. In an era where digital security is increasingly important, two-factor authentication adds an essential layer of security by requiring not just a password, but also a second form of verification—often provided through a smartphone. This protects accounts from unauthorized access and ensures that personal information and school-related data remain secure. 

This past November, Stuyvesant High School instituted two-factor authentication for staff and students on all stuy.edu emails, Talos, and Jupiter. If smartphones are banned, Stuyvesant will have to remove two-factor authentication, potentially leaving student and staff accounts vulnerable to breaches. Instead of prohibiting smartphones, schools should recognize their role in safeguarding student information and encourage their responsible use for security purposes.

Smartphones are now an inevitable part of life; students should learn to navigate life with them early on. If smartphones are banned in classrooms, using devices such as laptops and tablets while maintaining two-factor authentication will be virtually impossible. Schools plan to implement these bans by storing smartphones in lockers or with the teachers. If students were required to travel for their phones just to verify their identities so they could use laptops, this would take away from valuable class time. 

Currently, most of our school-related work and material is online. In a world where technology is increasingly integrated into every aspect of life, digital literacy may just be as crucial as traditional literacy. By incorporating smartphones into the classroom in a teacher-monitored and purposeful way, educators can teach students how to use technology effectively and ethically. Banning smartphones altogether deprives students of the opportunity to learn these essential skills in a supervised environment. The ability to critically evaluate online information, understand digital communication, and protect one’s privacy online are skills that are vital for success in the modern world. Schools have a responsibility to prepare students for the challenges they will face in the digital age, and this cannot be done effectively if smartphones are banned from the classroom.

Direct communication is possibly one of the most vital reasons that smartphones cannot be banned. Phones are important to students who have after-school family responsibilities and jobs. Students often use their phones to communicate with teachers and project-mates so that they may set up meetings during school hours. Perhaps most critically, phones are a vital resource during emergencies to communicate with authorities and let family members know whether or not anyone has been harmed. For example, students have called 911 during school shootings. They can also record emergencies so that there are records of what has happened. In a more immediate sense, students often have long commutes—especially at Stuyvesant, where kids often travel upwards of an hour each way—and smartphones are an important measure for communicating safety. 

The process of collecting cell phones at the beginning of the day is unreliable. It wastes time that could be spent learning. My middle school tried bagging and locking up cell phones at the beginning of each day; it did not work. Students surrendered old, broken devices. They “forgot” their phones. Policing smartphone use on school campuses is not only impractical but also detrimental to the overall school environment. Constantly monitoring and enforcing smartphone bans places an undue burden on teachers and administrators—my teachers who already collect cell phones seem to realize the futility of the task—diverting their attention from more important educational responsibilities. Instead of fostering trust and responsibility, heavy-handed policing creates a punitive atmosphere where students may feel more inclined to rebel or find ways to circumvent the rules.

But, if phone use is limited in any way—as it seems they will be—I might just find myself looking out the window.