NYC could ring up cellphone ban for public schools in next few weeks

Hold the phone, schoolkids.

A cellphone ban for New York City public schools could be coming in the next two weeks, Chancellor David Banks told reporters Wednesday.

“We’re working out the kinks on this, and we want to make sure that we do it right,” he said in remarks first reported by Chalkbeat.

Banks’ tease came as chatter has been dialing up for weeks that New York City – the nation’s largest school district – would impose a phone ban as part of a growing movement to protect kids from the harms of technology.

“You’re going to hear, within the next two weeks, the big announcement, but I will tell you we are very much leaning towards banning cell phones,” he said.

Banks unveiled some details during a Wednesday appearance on NY1, hinting that kids will likely still be able to bring phones to school – just not be allowed to use them until classes are done for the day.

“We want you to be able to bring your phone to school because the minute that school is over you need to be in communication with your family, so you’ll be able to do that,” he told NY1.

“But we’re going to look to have a system where you can’t use it during the school day.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul, who last week signed legislation barring social media companies from bombarding kids with “addictive” social media feeds, has called for a ban on students using smartphones in school.

The governor’s call appeared to have been answered by Banks, who said last week that school officials were mulling a ban.

He said the consensus, even among students, has been that removing phones altogether is a possible solution to various problems in city schools.

“I’ve not heard from many schools that they’re using these phones for highly rigorous academic purposes in classroom activities,” he said. 

A Queens teacher who wished to stay anonymous said while she fundamentally agrees that phones are distracting, the use of the tech can come in handy. 

“I assess my students and do quick checks for understanding daily using their phones as well as exit tickets to help my plan for the following day and know what i need to spend more time on,” they said Thursday.

But the educator, who teaches about 140 students per day, added that phones have had a startling effect on students’ wellbeing.

“Students posting about other students from lunch or a classroom can lead to bullying, fights and depression — as well as a lot of lost instructional times and distractions,” they said.

The potential ban struck parent Jean Hahn, who has one child in middle school and is supportive of Banks’ plan, as hypocritical.

She believes the city’s education department “gave kids the keys to the candy store” when all students got remote learning devices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’ve tried to keep my kids screen time down … but this is a band-aid solution and they’re not taking responsibility for the fact that they got kids hooked on devices — and the teachers will tell you kids have not been normal since COVID,” she said.

The city Department of Education declined to give additional details on the potential ban, referring The Post to Banks’ comments on NY1.