NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WKBW) — With one week until the start of the new school year, school districts across New York State are making their final preparations to implement the bell-to-bell ban on cellphones. Students will no longer be allowed to keep their phones with them throughout the school day.
Governor Hochul visited Niagara Falls High School on Monday for a discussion about the cellphone ban and the importance of distraction-free learning.
"The transition's tough, it's tough, but I'm telling parents, get ready for this," said Hochul.
Governor Hochul promised that the cellphone ban would reduce classroom distractions and improve learning outcomes.
"What you're going to witness and experience is something that's extraordinary," said Hochul.
WATCH: 'Get ready for this': New York school districts prepare to implement bell-to-bell ban on cellphones
District reports success with cellphone bans
The roundtable discussion was hosted by Niagara Falls City School Superintendent Mark Laurrie, who described cellphone use as "a war on dopamine."
"The dopamine hits that our students are getting and not even realizing what's taking them away from the purpose of why we are here," Laurrie said.
Lackawanna City School Superintendent Nadia Nashir also joined the conversation. Her district implemented its own bell-to-bell ban last school year and considers it a success.
"What we learned, to my surprise, is that our students appreciated the time to disconnect from their phones, the distractions, the notifications," Nashir said.
She said that parents still have access to their children through the Remind app, the main office and email.
"We have decreased discipline, we increased engagement," Nashir said. "And our parents, I really do believe, they trust more."
Safety concerns addressed
Hochul emphasized that during emergencies, students should focus on their trained teachers.
"The most important thing for that student to do if there's a shooter in the classroom or the hallways, pay attention to the highly trained teacher who's gone through constant drills," Hochul said. "They know how to handle this."
Students embrace connection
Niagara Falls High School senior Harjyot Kaur hopes the ban will help students socially and in the classroom.
"It's odd to me that I can't go up to anybody and say 'hey, hello, how are you doing' because they're so obsessed with their phones," she said. "I'll be able to make friends, I'll be able to connect face to face rather than text."
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