From distraction to discussion

With the school year in full swing, several Western New York school districts, including Lackawanna City School District, have implemented new policies banning cellphones in classrooms. This move comes in response to a growing statewide initiative led by Governor Kathy Hochul, who is advocating for a ban on cellphones in schools across New York State.

Katheryne T. Leigh-Osroosh, an assistant professor of counseling, school and educational psychology at the University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education, offers her expert insights on the implications of these new policies.

“While I appreciate the effort to examine the impact of cellphone use on learning, I wonder if these bans are more reactionary than preventative,” said Leigh-Osroosh. “In education, we have the power to be on the prevention side, and I’d like to see more focus on educational aspects that help students foster healthy relationships with technology.”

To help schools, educators and parents navigate these changes, Leigh-Osroosh offers the following tips:

• Model responsible technology use: Educators should reflect on their own use of technology and establish clear boundaries in the classroom. By modeling responsible technology behavior, educators can set an example for students to follow, helping them to adhere to the new rules more effectively.
• Create alternative social spaces: Schools should prioritize creating physical and social spaces where students can engage in person, helping them transition from virtual interactions to face-to-face communication. Encouraging students to interact in these environments can reduce their reliance on phones for social engagement.
• Educate on data privacy: Pair the cellphone ban with a prevention curriculum that addresses privacy and the long-term impacts of digital behavior. “Education is key. This ban should be paired with a strong prevention curriculum that teaches students about data privacy and social media’s impacts on identity development,” Leigh-Osroosh said.
• Support students’ emotional well-being: For some students, losing access to their phones might feel like a significant loss, similar to the grief experienced when losing a significant part of their identity. According to Leigh-Osroosh, schools should be prepared to offer support through group discussions or psychoeducational interventions. “For many students, especially those who are used to communicating through their phones or social media, the ban could feel like a loss of an aspect of themselves,” she explained.

As these policies continue to shape classrooms, educators and parents are seeking guidance on how best to implement them.

To further explore this topic, GSE and the Western New York Education Equity Task Force (WNYEETF) will hold an online event to discuss the growing trend of banning cellphones in schools and its impact on students, educators and parents.

The event, “School Cellphone Bans: Key Considerations for Schools and Communities,” will take place on Thursday, Oct. 10, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. via Zoom.

Attendees can register for the event by visiting the Zoom registration page. The event is free and open to the public.

Suzanne Rosenblith, GSE dean and professor; Samuel Radford III, co-convenor of the WNYEETF and a National Parent Union board member; and additional WNYEETF co-conveners will cohost the event.

“As a National Parent Union board member and co-convenor of the Western New York Education Equity Task Force, I believe it is essential to approach the issue of cellphone use in schools with a forward-thinking, proactive mindset rather than with reactive bans,” said Radford. “The recent National Parent Union survey clearly indicates that the majority of parents across the country oppose outright bans on cellphones. This perspective is understandable, as the students in our schools today are digital natives who have only known a world where technology is integral to communication, learning and social interaction.

“Banning cellphones is akin to telling them they can't speak their native language in school,” Radford continued. “Rather than eliminating access, we should focus on developing thoughtful policies that integrate technology into the learning environment, foster responsible digital citizenship and equip students to navigate the digital world effectively. It is time to shift the conversation from prohibition to innovation and create educational spaces that reflect the realities of the modern world.”

Leigh-Osroosh will lead the discussion alongside Stephanie Fredrick, associate director of the Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention and associate professor of counseling, school and educational psychology, and Amanda Nickerson, director of the Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention and SUNY Distinguished Professor of counseling, school and educational psychology.

The panelists will explore the various approaches schools are taking to ban cellphones and the effects on students’ academic performance and well-being. They will also cover practical recommendations for approaching this issue and offer real-world examples from schools and organizations.

“I look forward to learning what the research tells us about the costs and benefits of banning cellphones from K-12 settings,” said Rosenblith.