Nov. 12, 2025
By Aubrey Valente
Staff Writer
As cellphone distractions surge in classrooms, New York has become one of 23 states to restrict student phone use — a move that reflects growing concern about devices disrupting learning.
These bans require students to keep their phones in a lockable pouch or store them in bins or lockers during class time. New York specifically requires a statewide bell-to-bell restriction, meaning students store away their phones at the beginning of the day and cannot use them until the last bell rings.
English and public speaking teacher Ms. Burns said she agrees with the phone ban and believes New Jersey should enact one as well.
FACT BOX BY ZAHARA CHOWDHURY/CANVA STOCK IMAGE Twenty-three states, in addition to Washington, D.C., have enacted legislation or issued executive orders banning cellphones in schools. (SOURCE: Campus Safety Magazine).
“Some of the benefits of not having phones in class are definitely reducing distractions, so students are more focused,” Burns said.
While LHS does not have a bell-to-bell phone ban like New York, most teachers instruct students to place their phones in caddies or racks in their classrooms.
“They are listening to and following directions better than before. They are working on tasks without all of the outside distractions that come along with phones,” Burns said. “Discussions have become stronger since phone restrictions were put into place, unlike in the past when students were often distracted by their phones instead of actively participating and engaging in conversations.”
She said the positive effects of phone bans extend beyond academic performance.
“It has mental health benefits, so students aren’t feeling overwhelmed and intimidated by the constant flow of information or looking at social media or other things that can have a negative impact on their mental well-being,” Burns said.
Unlike Burns, freshman Sofia Melleno said she disagrees with New York’s phone ban.
“Some of the benefits of not having phones in class are definitely reducing distractions, so students are more focused.”
“Having my phone nearby actually helps me stay calm and connected, especially if I need to reach family in an emergency. A complete ban could cause stress and anxiety for students who rely on their phones for safety or communication,” Melleno said.
She said schools are considering this ban because of concerns regarding distractions, social media and cheating, but she believes those problems can be solved with better guidelines instead of total bans.
“When I first heard about the idea of a statewide phone ban, it seemed unnecessary to me. After all, not every student misuses their phone,” Melleno said. “In middle school, the rules were much stricter, but in high school, we’re given more freedom and expected to make more mature decisions.”
Sophomore Sebastian Lupinski said he has mixed feelings about New York’s phone ban.
“I understand restricting cellphone use during classroom time so students can learn and understand what they are learning, but I think outside of classroom time, like when you’re going from class to class or when the lesson is done, then I think cellphone use should be allowed,” Lupinski said.
He said a distraction-free environment is beneficial to students’ learning, but schools do their students a disservice by imposing overly strict restrictions.
“For students who don’t know how to use [their] technology appropriately, [phones] can be very harmful,” Lupinski said. “Cellphones should be banned during lessons, but students also need to learn how to control their usage.”
