With the start of the new school year, many schools in the capital region have introduced mobile phone bans. But are parents for or against it?

In 2024, everyone has a phone, even teenagers. We adults know how distracting it can be to have a phone on us all the time, and it must be even worse for our children when they are at school all day.

Think about how often you use your phone at work or at home. A ban on cell phones in schools makes sense in theory, but some parents in the capital region have spoken out and made good arguments as to why the ban may not be the best approach.

So here’s a question. If a child has a learning disability and uses a phone for apps to learn, how is that handled? How does the child not get excluded if the placement is supposed to be private and protected by law? I don’t know the answer to these questions, but I wonder how it will be handled. Either way, a difficult decision. – Silvy

On one condition. Prove that the school is 100% safe. If something goes wrong, I want my child (and others) to be able to easily call for help. I understand the issue that they are distracting, but sometimes they really are a safety tool… so yes, ban them in schools where there is an equivalent or more efficient way to call authorities, parents, etc. – Michael

Many said they were in favor of the ban, as long as it keeps students away from class, they should be allowed to keep their phones in their backpacks. Others said if students are banned from owning cell phones, teachers should be banned as well.

Gloversville Schools requires students in grades 6-12 to pack their belongings in special sealable bags for the school day.