Monday, May 19, 2025
New York State will ban smartphones in schools during the school day under a tentative agreement made on April 28, and Baldwin Superintendent Shari Camhi offered her take on the high-profile initiative late last week.
The “bell-to-bell” plan, part of the negotiations of the state’s $254 billion 2025-26 budget, would prohibit students from using smartphones and other internet-enabled devices from the beginning to the end of the school day, starting next school year. Exceptions would be made for students with medical needs, translation tools or individualized education programs.
Schools would also be required to provide parents with a way to reach their children during the day.
Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced the plan in January, citing concerns about mental health and the endless distractions of phones and other devices, which result in reduced academic focus. “We’ve protected our kids before from cigarettes, alcohol and drunk driving, and now we’re protecting them from addictive technology designed to hijack their attention,” Hochul said when announcing the plan as part of a tentative budget agreement.
For her part, Camhi emphasized that the issue of smartphones in school extends beyond the classroom, and requires a broader approach involving families as well as schools.
In an email to the Herald, Camhi explained that Baldwin schools already prohibit smartphone use entirely from kindergarten through eighth grade, and during class time at the high school. She said that the district would follow any policies passed by the state, but cautioned that a school-based ban alone is not enough.
“The issue of smartphones is not just one of access in school, but access in general,” she wrote. Students, she added, need structured guidance on how to manage smartphones — similar to the way new drivers are taught to maneuver vehicles responsibly.
“When we learn to drive, we are given instruction, practice time and restrictions,” Camhi wrote. “We do not automatically have access to our own vehicles. Why shouldn’t we, as a society, treat powerful devices like smartphones the same way?”
She also warned of the new restriction’s potential unintended consequences, emphasizing the need for family involvement.
“The responsibility cannot fall solely on schools,” Camhi wrote. “Families play a crucial role in guiding their children, and need to partner with us in helping students better manage their screen time.”
Even before the coronavirus pandemic, excessive screen time among students in the U.S. was a significant concern. According to a 2019 study by Common Sense Media, children ages 8 to 12 averaged about five hours of screen time per day, while 13- to 18-year-olds spent an average of 7 hours and 22 minutes daily on screens. That included time spent on phones and computers as well as watching television.
While the statistics were concerning, the situation has apparently worsened in recent years, with studies indicating that screen time spiked during the pandemic.
To help students navigate the digital world, Baldwin schools teach media literacy in grades six through 12, as part of their social studies and English curriculums. The district also hosts regular parent workshops on digital wellness.
Camhi highlighted efforts to promote in-person interaction, including Baldwin Family Street Games, an initiative encouraging outdoor play, and Family STEAM Night at the Long Island Children’s Museum, which recently welcomed 800 Baldwin families (see story, Page 9).
“This is a partnership between the schools and families,” Camhi said. “We need to get to the root cause of this issue, and together find a solution for the greater good of our children and community.”
