On Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) held a press briefing on smartphone restrictions in schools.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Here we are at last. It's Teacher Appreciation Day. Anyone know that? Anyone
00:08appreciate our teachers? Yes, yes. And what better way to show our gratitude
00:16than making history together? And today I'm here to announce the history part.
00:21New York is now the largest state in the nation with a K through 12 bell-to-bell
00:29cell phone ban because of all of you. And I want to thank some extraordinary
00:39leaders. Someone who has led this organization, NYSID, not for a long time,
00:45but her impact has been profound. And she was unrelenting in this cause. You know,
00:52people try to tell us we can't do it, it's too much. Leave it to the school
00:57districts. They'll know what to do. They could have done it all along. Melinda
01:03Persson was the warrior I needed at my side. Let's give her another round of
01:06applause, our President Isidt.
01:12Muna Heaven, Mothers Against Media Addiction, the Harlem chapter. Thank you so
01:16much for all your, you're gonna be speaking in a couple moments. Thank you
01:19Muna. Thank you for being a champion, helping us take this message all through
01:23the state. Anika Bupardi is gonna be our 8th grade speaker from Farnsworth Middle
01:27School in Gildedland. He's gonna tell you what it's like to be an 8th grader. Who
01:31wants to be an 8th grader again?
01:33Well, she's the brave one. She's an 8th grader. And Raj Goyle, who's the founder of
01:39Phone Free New York, will be joining us as well. I've been talking about this for a
01:43while. Raised it last year. Was told we needed some time to socialize it. I was ready at,
01:50hello. I mean, yes, let's just do this. But we needed to take it on the road. And I
01:55went around the state, all over the state, you know, north country to Long Island,
02:00gathering teachers and students and administrators and principals and
02:06superintendents and the PTA and anybody who would sit down with me and hear from
02:11them about what the impact of cell phones in schools has been doing to our
02:17children. I didn't hear anything good. It was all negative from the students on up.
02:24And when we said we could do this statewide, no other state has gone as far as we
02:30have, well, maybe we could kind of, you know, just water it down a little bit or
02:35maybe just, you know, maybe just during, you know, a couple classes you do it. And you
02:40know what? That wasn't good enough for us, right? Like we knew that you had that
02:44distraction, that temptation sitting in their pocket that you can whip out during
02:49lunch or study hall. They would never even talk to another student during study
02:53hall or lunch. So it defeated the purpose of giving children and students their
03:00childhood back. But there were those who opposed. They said it couldn't be done.
03:04They tried to spread misleading information about this. But they sure as heck didn't
03:09know who they're messing with. Because I had 700,000 members of NYSED on my side and
03:15many other supporters, as I said, the PTA and others. And we got it done. Now I'll say
03:22this. Anybody know I'm not a mom? I say it every single day. I've been a mom longer
03:28than I've been a governor. And I'm hardwired to protect kids, my own and yours. And I never
03:37back down when it comes to what's good for our children. Because your family is
03:41my fight. I've been saying this since day one and it still continues. And it always
03:46will be. So listening to these students asking for adults to intercede. I was so
03:55struck when I met a student not far from here. I've told her story all over the
03:58state. We're in a library gathered around in a circle and I'm just hearing the
04:02stories what it's like. The pressure on these kids was immense. Especially the
04:07girls who are so subjected to pressures about how they look, you know, where they
04:13wear their makeup, are they wearing weird shoes, or what their dress looks like, or
04:17their clothes. And were they being excluded from the meeting that was going on in
04:20the girls room at that moment? Were they not being invited to a party? They had all
04:24this on their minds when they're supposed to be paying attention in a
04:29classroom. Even they knew it was too much. Their parents never had to endure this. We
04:35didn't have this going on. And I also heard from teachers who said, we just can't
04:42compete anymore. We just can't compete with the screens. And we're losing the
04:48battle of connecting with our students. All they want to do, starting in
04:52September, they want to develop a relationship with them. But the kids are
04:57just staring into their hand the entire class time. Not absorbing a lot. And I heard
05:03from parents who are saying their kids are becoming more anxious and withdrawn.
05:08One mother's told me a horrible story. I was up in the North country and she said
05:13that she and her husband take shifts making sure one of them is home when
05:17their son arrives at the end of the school day. Because he's so bullied during
05:23the day on his cell phone by others, he comes home in the state of depression. They
05:27don't know that he won't do something drastic. All because of that constant
05:32bombardment of negativity that this child was feeling. And it didn't have to be
05:37that way and it wasn't that way before. So our kids are overwhelmed by the
05:43addiction, the addictive algorithms and endless distractions. 95% of teenagers have
05:49smartphones. They receive 250 notifications a day on average. They can't possibly
05:57focus on anything else. They're so afraid of missing something. You know what
06:01FOMO is? I get FOMO sometimes. I know what it's like. But it's on steroids for our
06:09kids because they'll be a social outcast if they're not included or something and
06:14they're not always paying attention to this. I don't know how anyone could focus
06:18with that disruption. So we took it to the legislature. I did all my work. We had a lot
06:25of rallies back in September and events with Melinda and so many others gathered.
06:29Teachers were there. We kept this constant drumbeat moving forward. And we get to the
06:35legislature and we're hearing opposition from some school districts who say, well,
06:42leave it up to us. You know, it's been even some agencies. People telling us not to do
06:47what I knew we had to do. Trying to make it difficult. Or can we compromise? Can we have a
06:53part of the day or just really during the classes and trust the kids? When that young
06:58woman said you have to save us from ourselves, I knew she really meant it. And
07:02that's exactly what I said we're going to do. So we knew we couldn't do half
07:06measures. Wouldn't cut it for me. I'm never a halfway person. But also our kids
07:13needed us to be bold. Our teachers needed us to be decisive. And that's exactly what we
07:18did. And we stood firm for this. We will have no cell phones in a child's hand from
07:26the moment they enter school until they leave. No more memes instead of math. And
07:31so they're now going to be focused. And people say, why is this so important to you? Because
07:38I think there should be laughter in the hallways again. I think there should be human voices
07:43that you hear in gym class. I want our kids to make eye to eye contact again. I want them
07:50to enjoy the experience of real human connection, not just through a screen. And especially with
07:57this rise in AI bots. Are you reading about this? Where they can have artificial intelligence
08:04create a friend for them? Do you read the articles about how they turn into more than just friends?
08:11And do very inappropriate conversations and activities? And we want our teachers to feel
08:20liberated to teach again. That's what I want. I want the laughter. I want the teachers to
08:25do what they can do. I want the kids to be free. So we needed to find a place where kids
08:29can learn and just be kids again. And I will say this. Our kids' mental health matters. And
08:36I'm not going to let anyone, any company, any social media company, tech company, think that
08:40they can own our kids' minds and their mental health. Because that's what's been happening.
08:46And that's why last year we took such bold action once again. And telling these companies,
08:51you cannot bombard our kids with your algorithms unless they've asked for that information.
08:56No more. We stood up. And the rest of the country paid attention because they couldn't
09:00even do it in California. No other state can do what we're doing here. Because we stand
09:04up for our kids and we fight. And in that fight, I also want to thank our educators. You're
09:09on the front lines every second. And so we got our kids back starting in September. School
09:16districts get ready.
09:21And anybody who's not sure they want to do this, go talk to a superintendent like David
09:30Blanchard. David? Where are you? David. Stand up. David Blanchard, superintendent of Schoharie.
09:40He has been my hero. Because he is the one who answered all my questions when I first met
09:46with him and said, how did you do this? Because they did it in Schoharie and never looked back.
09:52And he said, it was tough in the beginning. A little bit of resistance. Probably a lot
09:56of resistance. But you know what? Resistance, but when you're in pursuit of a just cause,
10:02you can be overcome. You must overcome it. And that's exactly what you did in Schoharie.
10:07You paved the way for other school districts to see how it can be done. And your children
10:11are thriving. And they're connecting. And they'll emerge from school. Fully functioning
10:17adults who know how to communicate. So for future employers and others, this is the next
10:23generation of leaders in New York State. And I'm looking forward to the fact that this
10:27generation will be the very last one in our state that ever even knew you could have cell
10:33phones in schools. Right? All right. Thank you very much. My great champion and partner,
10:38Melinda Pearson. Melinda Pearson, join us up here. And tell us what it was like to be on
10:46the front lines. Because you did an extraordinary job. So proud of you, Melinda.
10:50Melinda Pearson. Good morning. Good morning. We are so honored to welcome all of you here
10:59today to NYCET headquarters for this celebration. And first, I want to say, Governor Hochul, thank
11:06you. You can see a thank you note here from hundreds of our members who wanted to send
11:12you a special message. Because we know that this accomplishment is something that is going
11:19to truly transform our school environments. It is going to make a difference in every classroom,
11:25in every hallway, in every lunchroom. And it is because you had the vision, the courage,
11:31in the heart to make sure that we got it done. So thank you so much.
11:36This is not just a win for the state of New York. This is a win, because we are creating
11:46a model for the rest of the country. It didn't happen by accident. And I want to recognize some
11:53of the incredible partnerships that made today possible. From the governor's office to school
11:58officials, to law enforcement, healthcare experts, to parents, the New York State PTA, every educator,
12:06every advocate who refused to give up. This is not about being anti-phone or anti-technology.
12:15This is about being pro-childhood. Technology has been crowding out many of the other aspects
12:23of our children's childhood. Because screens are so ever-present in our students' lives. Phones
12:33have stolen the vital building blocks like face-to-face connection, spontaneous play, unstructured
12:40exploration, the ability to focus deeply, and the simple experience of being present with
12:48one another. And by passing a statewide bell-to-bell policy, New York State said, enough is enough.
12:57We are choosing to give our children back seven hours of a day. Seven hours in their classrooms,
13:03in their hallways, in their lunchrooms, to have curiosity for human connection, and sometimes
13:10occasional boredom. Right? Sometimes my kids say to me, Mom, I'm bored. And I say, thank God.
13:18Thank God. This is the space where you get to let your mind wander, to wonder, to come up
13:25with new ideas. We are choosing to invest in real childhood with all its laughter, its friendships,
13:34creativities, mistakes, discoveries, all of those things that have been missing. Because
13:39it's in those moments when a phone isn't filling the silence that real growth happens. That is why
13:47bell-to-bell was the only way for us to go. But our work cannot stop here. This bell-to-bell policy
13:56is a crucial step toward addressing social media and excessive tech use as the public health issue
14:01that it is. We need to keep having honest conversations in our schools, in our homes, and across our communities
14:09about how we can help this next generation reclaim healthier, happier, and more connected lives.
14:16The epidemic of loneliness is real. And we need to expand education efforts for parents and caregivers
14:24who are navigating the digital landscape alongside their children. Every time I put up a firewall for my own children,
14:31they find a way around it. Right? They're better and faster at this stuff than us adults. And we got to be on top of it.
14:39We need help. We must continue advocating for common sense policies and cultural change that prioritize the well-being of our children over big tech
14:51and their efforts to just keep making money off of our children.
14:56Together we have stood up for childhood and the future will be better for it. Thank you again, Governor Hochul.
15:07Thank you to every NYCET member here who sounded the alarm on this critically important issue.
15:13We are going to move forward together. And the best is yet to come. Thank you.
15:20I'd now like to introduce Muna Heaven, Mothers Against Media Addiction, Harlem chapter leader and parent,
15:33as she delivers her remarks.
15:35This is really great energy. I am so honored to be here. Good morning, everyone. My name is Muna Heaven.
16:01I'm here as a single mom, child welfare attorney, and the proud Harlem chapter leader for Mothers Against Media Addiction, also known as MAMA.
16:14MAMA is a grassroots movement of parents and allies fighting back against media addiction
16:21and creating a world where real-life experiences and interactions remain at the heart of a healthy childhood.
16:30Like most of you, I'm a regular New Yorker that goes out every day, works really hard to make sacrifices so that my child can have the best education and life possible.
16:43We value education and the basic premise that our children go to school to learn and not to scroll.
16:53When I drop my daughter off at school, I expect that she will spend the day learning, developing social skills, and getting the tools that she needs to flourish.
17:04But this is not what was happening across the state. Instead, we've allowed devices to steal our children's attention and interfere with the critical and important work of our teachers.
17:17Who would believe that in 2025, the main competitor in the classroom would be a device?
17:29For too long, social media and gaming platforms have distracted our students and exploited their emotions for profit.
17:36And parents are understandably frustrated.
17:40This past Sunday, I had the pleasure of participating in the Five Borough Bike Tour in New York City.
17:48And I had on my neon yellow MAMA jersey. It's very bright.
17:55And the MAMA logo in red, Moms Against Media Addiction, was on the back.
17:59And I was so humbled and surprised at how many parents came up to me at the rest stops to just share their frustration,
18:07share how helpless they felt because of the negative impact of the cell phones on their children and in their lives.
18:14They were also relieved to see that there was an organization such as MAMA, right?
18:20Basically, in essence, parents have just been waiting for our lawmakers to act because we all know we can't do this alone.
18:28Parents just want somebody to do something because we're in this together.
18:34Our lowest common denominator, regardless of your political affiliation, is that we love our children and we want them to learn and be their best selves.
18:45I was also surprised that as I was cycling, people would call out to me.
18:51They would say, MAMA.
18:54They would ring their bells.
18:56I was like, this bell-to-bell thing is a common theme.
19:01It was so funny.
19:04And one gentleman wrote up to me and he said verbatim,
19:08Hey, MAMA, I see you're keeping up.
19:12I said, of course I'm keeping up.
19:15And that's because MAMA's don't only keep up very often.
19:20We set the pace.
19:22And that's what's happening here in New York.
19:27That is exactly what is happening here in New York.
19:31New York, again, is the trailblazer.
19:33Thanks to leaders like Governor Hochul, MAMA's founder, Julie Scalfo, other incredible advocates.
19:40And I said, I mean, I said you can't just can't get better than the teachers union weighing in because they are who are with our children every single day on the front lines.
19:50And because of this collective effort, New York, as the governor said, is now the largest state in the nation to pass full bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions for all K through 12 schools.
20:07This policy will not only improve educational outcomes, but the overall well-being of our students statewide.
20:17It's an exciting time in New York to see the legislature move with such command.
20:25And we own it.
20:26We own it together that we cannot opt out of child protection, not offline, not online and not in schools.
20:36This policy that Governor Hochul has pushed through rings its own bell.
20:42It has sounded the message loud and clear that in New York State, we value learning over scrolling.
20:50And that no matter how steep the incline, we will push forward and we will peddle through any challenge and any resistance as parents, as teachers, advocates, educators, all of us in this collective movement to move our nation forward.
21:11Because we value our children and we will never, ever give up on the sanctity of their education.
21:18Thank you so much.
21:28I would now like to introduce Anika Bupati.
21:30She will be our eighth grader, delivering her remarks.
21:34Good morning, everyone.
21:48My name is Anika Bupati and it's a true honor to speak once again alongside Governor Hochul.
21:54I'm currently an eighth grade student at Farnsworth Middle School and I'm thrilled that the new legislation for bell to bell cell phone bans across New York State has been passed.
22:03This pivotal decision marks the end of a major disruption to learning by eliminating constant distractions, effects of cyber bullying, and allowing teachers to fully focus on what truly matters, educating and inspiring their students.
22:17As a student at Farnsworth Middle School, where smartphones are already banned, I've observed nothing but positive outcomes from the policy.
22:24With the distractions of social media, texting, and constant notifications removed, students are able to concentrate on their studies and engage in classroom discussions.
22:34The change has also encouraged more face-to-face interactions, helping students strengthen their social skills and build a stronger sense of community within the school.
22:43Additionally, with fewer obstructions, students are more likely to take part in physical activities during breaks and promoting healthier habits.
22:52Since the cell phone ban, the lunchroom has become much more social.
22:55Instead of everyone being glued to their screens, students are actually talking to each other.
23:00Friendships have deepened and there's a noticeable increase in laughter and conversations.
23:05It's a more connected atmosphere, now that students are fully present and engaged with their peers.
23:11In study halls, the lack of distractions has led to a significant boost in productivity.
23:16Students can now focus on their studies and be in a more concentrated environment.
23:21This shift has resulted in a more effective time, this shift has affected students with helping them with time management and improved academic performance of those without smartphones in school.
23:33In the classroom, the ban has been a profound impact on students' attention and participation.
23:39With fewer distractions, students are more focused on lessons raising their hand and contributing to a productive environment.
23:47In conclusion, the bell to bell cell phone ban has already proven to enhance focus, foster stronger connections, and improve academic performance.
23:56At Farnsworth Middle School, we've seen firsthand how this policy helps students thrive.
24:01This decision is a significant step forward for Education New York, and I'm confident it will continue to benefit students across the state.
24:09Thank you, Governor Hochul, for your strong leadership and commitment to supporting the futures of students.
24:14I look forward to seeing the lasting positive impact this policy will have.
24:19The next speaker will be Raj Goyal.
24:32Another round of applause for Annika there.
24:37Yeah, that's great.
24:38Amazing.
24:39Makes me miss my daughters there.
24:42I'm Raj Goyal.
24:43I'm the founder of Phone Free New York, and we are so proud to be here today and, of course,
24:48applaud Governor Hochul, the teachers, to get this really landmark legislation through.
24:53A bit of personal history as to why I'm involved in this.
24:57I'm a technology CEO.
24:59I'm a proud New York tech CEO.
25:00I started a company.
25:01We grew it.
25:02We successfully sold it, and I invest in companies.
25:04I love technology.
25:06I love what innovation brings, but I'm a dad first.
25:09I have two teenage daughters, one 13, one 15, one at a public school in New York City, one at a private school.
25:16And the hidden truth is that those of us in technology, we all restrict our kids from using these phones because we know that technology needs to be used responsibly and safely.
25:29And that is the actual reality of what happens with technology.
25:33We just don't let it grow unfiltered, unchecked.
25:38And that's the genius and the strength of what this legislation represents.
25:43I'm involved in both PTAs at both my daughters' schools, and I have to say there's very few issues.
25:49I'm actually a former elected official myself, Governor Hochul.
25:52I don't think we can agree in this day and age on whether or not the sky's blue, but yet this is a 70-30 issue.
25:59This is suburban, urban, rural, black, brown, red, yellow, white.
26:03We all know that we need to have these phones restricted.
26:07And I will say there's been a lot of conversation, as there should be.
26:11This is the largest state.
26:12I will also point out I think we are the only blue state that actually has this.
26:16So that's another tribute to Governor Hochul's leadership.
26:19I will say combined with the SAFE Act, which Governor Hochul mentioned briefly, that is truly a landmark piece of legislation as well.
26:28Governor Hochul has now positioned New York State to be the leading state in the country to actually protect not only children,
26:36but people from addictive algorithms, which Big Tech knows they are using to prey on us, and to protect kids at schools.
26:44This is a phenomenal step that actually I'm sure will get more national attention as well.
26:49She's had the courage along with legislative leadership.
26:52And I have to say when you have the governor and the teachers, watch out.
26:56I've been around politics a long time.
26:58I was like, I think we're just going to stand back and let these guys do their thing.
27:02So it was a really, it was very, we are very proud to be part of that.
27:06And I have to say on behalf of parents, people all over the state, we really thank you.
27:11This is not an issue that you had to work on.
27:14And in fact, for the media out there, I will say the reporting hasn't always been super accurate.
27:19There's maps out there that say, oh, there's 16 states that have taken action.
27:23But I'd ask you, what does a classroom ban actually mean?
27:27Are we suggesting that it's okay to text while a teacher is teaching?
27:31Of course it's not.
27:32A true policy is really binary.
27:35There's either a bell-to-bell ban or there isn't.
27:38So the fact that they took the time to be, to not compromise when we had opposition
27:43and to say that it is only a bell-to-bell ban, as the other speakers have mentioned,
27:48those phones go away for that seven to eight hours, that's a monumental step.
27:52And in a political process, there was every incentive to compromise, to say that we'll take a half measure.
27:59They didn't.
28:00I'm proud to stand with them.
28:01And I'm proud that we will now be protecting our children in New York thanks to their work.
28:05So thank you very much.