Governor Kathy Hochul is currently leading a campaign to prohibit the use of smartphones in New York schools. While this initiative gains momentum, a school district in the Capital Region has already taken matters into their own hands by implementing a policy that eliminates the use of phones on school grounds, making it a “phone-free” environment.
Should All Schools Do This?
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Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced her intention to introduce a new bill that would prohibit students from using phones with internet access. According to the announcement, the legislation will be brought to New York’s next legislative session in January. If passed, the bill will allow students to carry phones, but only those that do not have internet access.
Kathy Hochul Takes Office as New York State Governor
Governor Hochul acknowledged that the current approach to smartphones and other internet-enabled devices in schools is not effective for students and educators. She emphasized the importance of receiving feedback from teachers and parents throughout the state to create practical solutions that will benefit the children’s education.
Cambridge Central School, located in Upstate New York, has recently implemented a no-cellphone policy for its students. This move has made it one of the few schools in the state that has banned cellphones in classrooms. The decision to go cellphone-free is aimed at creating a more focused and distraction-free learning environment for students. This news has been making rounds in the local news as 518news reported on the school’s new policy.
Cambridge Central School will Be “Phone-Free”
According to the website of the school located in Washington County, Cambridge Central School is taking the lead in implementing the proposed legislation. They plan to make their school a phone-free area starting from the 2024-25 academic year. This move is aimed at enhancing the quality of teaching and learning.
At Cambridge Elementary School, students are not allowed to use personal electronic devices throughout the regular school day, starting from their arrival until the end of the day. During this time, students are required to switch off their devices and keep them out of sight.
According to the school district, Cambridge Jr./Sr. High School will be utilizing a program called Yondr to encourage an interactive learning atmosphere. Yondr has been integrated into more than 2,000 educational institutions across 16 different countries.
What’s Yondr?
Yondr offers a straightforward and secure solution for students to store their phones during school hours. With the use of a specially designed pouch, each student can securely store their phone in their assigned pouch and will not be able to access it until the end of the school day.
It is the responsibility of the students to bring their Yondr pouch to and from school every day. They must ensure that they do not misplace or lose it. In case the students need to leave the campus for any reason, they can unlock their phones after returning the Yondr pouch. It is imperative that the students understand the importance of keeping their Yondr pouch with them at all times while they are on the school premises.
After conducting thorough research on schools that have implemented their program, Yondr has discovered a significant improvement in student engagement, behavior, and academic performance. According to a recent survey, 86% of students have reported a positive impact on their safety and overall well-being.
