Less than a week into the new academic year, some New York City public school students are already testing the limits of the new cellphone ban.
Students said the policy, which also restricts other electronic devices, has been tough to adjust to.
“I do miss my device. But I’m studious and I don’t mind not having something to distract me,” said high school senior Ambar Sanchez.
Fellow senior Olivia Roman said the rules are broader than just cellphones.
“The bigger thing was all electronic devices in total. Because before, we were able to bring in our AirPods,” Roman said.
Reports from principals suggest some students may be finding workarounds by putting a backup phone in the school-issued Velcro pouch designed to store devices during the day. That possibility didn’t surprise NYC Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos.
“What I know is always expect young people to try and work around us,” Aviles-Ramos said. “Am I right young people? You’re always going to find a way.”
Not all students were familiar with the so-called “burner phone” tactic, and Mayor Eric Adams brushed off the concerns, framing the creativity as part of youth culture — handing out an A for effort.
“This is all part of their creative spirit and energy. We did it. Let’s not act like when we were in school, we didn’t have all our little tricks on how we got around things. This is all a part of creativity,” Adams said.
At the same time, the city rolled out a major investment in classroom technology. Adams, joined by Yankees star Jazz Chisholm, distributed the first batch of 350,000 new Chromebook laptops with built-in internet access. The $300 million initiative, which T-Mobile and Dell are a part of, aims to close the digital divide.
“It’s a shame that we have so many people that go home and they don’t have access to internet at home. So the connectivity that we’re providing today, the devices we’re providing today, is a lifeline for the future writers, for the future leaders of the city,” said Matthew Fraser, the city’s chief technology officer.
School officials emphasized the ban is not meant to block technology altogether, but to cut down on distractions in the classroom that can impact learning. The Chromebook program, they said, is a sign of the city’s commitment to improving access to learning.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC New York. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC New York journalist edited the article for publication.