Why We’re Opposing the NY Statewide Student Cell Phone Ban

Governor Hochul recently announced a proposal to ban cell phone use in all New York public schools. While it’s true that phones can be a distraction, a full statewide ban goes too far. It also leaves out the voices of the people who will be most affected by it us, the students.

For many of us, phones aren’t just for social media. They’re how we stay safe, keep in touch with our families, access translation tools, manage health needs, and even help with schoolwork. Taking that away across the board doesn’t make schools safer or smarter. It just takes away something important without asking why we use it in the first place.

What makes this worse is that the policy was announced without including students in the conversation. We believe that if you’re going to make decisions about us, we deserve to be heard.

We’re asking New York State to stop this one-size-fits-all ban and create a smarter approach. Let students, teachers, and local communities work together on rules that make sense for each school. Give us a seat at the table.

This petition was created by NYPAC, the National Youth Political Action Committee. We’re a student-led group working to make sure young people have a real voice in the decisions that shape our lives. If you agree, sign and share this petition. Let’s show our leaders that students are paying attention and we’re ready to speak up.