Student: Banning cellphones in NY schools limits research, AI exploration (Your Letters)

To the Editor:

On July 14, 2025, the Baldwinsville Central School District Board of Education enacted a policy designed to accommodate a new state law passed as part of the state budget and signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, who said she developed this policy because, “I want the laughter, I want the teachers to do what they can do, I want the kids to be free.”

This law prohibits the in-school use of any electronic device that can access the internet, unless it is provided by the school. In many instances students have used these devices, in particular cellphones, to cheat and engage in cyberbullying. Consequently, this law is meant to reduce inappropriate use of internet-enabled devices and create a distraction-free learning environment.

This approach begs the question: Is this a balanced and academically sound approach to education? Quick internet access has long aided teachers and students in both delivering and accessing curricular, extracurricular and research materials. Limiting students to the school-issued Chromebook, where internet access is slow and many educational apps and websites are blocked, is a notable inconvenience because it dramatically decreases student access to vast quantities of essential information. Eliminating these devices also substantially restricts communication, silencing students from speaking out and preventing parents and guardians from seeing in. Students and parents can no longer share information about scheduling conflicts, practice time changes or new after-school plans.

As well, consider that the use of advanced technology goes beyond the classroom setting. Micron’s arrival may create many jobs requiring thorough understanding and use of AI and other advanced technologies with which students will need fluency and experience. It may not be advantageous for schools to passively teach students that AI is not to be trusted.

There are certainly students who abuse the privilege of having access to advanced devices, misusing them to hurt others and gain unfair advantage. However, the large majority of students behave responsibly and use these tools in an appropriate academic manner. Should conscientious students bear consequences because a select few have been too immature to handle such privileges? Is this new policy actually, as claimed, a pursuit of academic and personal freedom? Ultimately, only the quickly approaching new school year will respond to these questions, and until then, I guess we will just have to wait to see.

Charity Miller

Baldwinsville Class of 2026

Baldwinsville