Navigating School Tech Bans

B.T.G.S. Daily explores New York’s statewide ban on cell phones and internet-enabled devices during K–12 school hours, including lunch and study halls, designed to reduce distractions and improve focus. Reporter Kathleen Masciana, a blind college student at Manhattanville University, navigates device policies set by individual professors, as the university does not ban phones outright. Using assistive technology such as a braille computer, tablet for note-taking, and Google Voice, she stays connected while complying with these rules. The episode highlights social psychologist Jonathan Haidt’s four essential norms for healthier childhoods in the digital age: no smartphones before high school, no social media before age 16, phone-free schools, and encouraging more free, independent play in the real world. Kathleen interviews her former high school technology teacher Ms. Tina Peretti to discuss the impact of these policies on student focus, safety, and well-being.