Teachers Divided on Hochul’s Plan to Ban Smartphones in New York Schools

Gov. Kathy Hochul has begun a series of meetings with parents, students, and teachers as part of her campaign aimed at curbing the use of smartphones by youth in New York. The governor blames the devices for waning attention spans and learning deficits. “When it comes to smartphones in our schools, the status quo just isn’t working. I’m listening to educators, parents, and students across our state to ensure we take on this challenge and help our young people succeed,” the governor wrote on X on July 15. Ms. Hochul hopes to raise awareness about the mental, emotional, and social ills that she says stem directly from immersion in social media and the constant use of smartphones....