By Contributing Writers Nathan Santos (’28) and Gemma Ricciardiello (’28)
On May 6, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a law that banned personal devices and internet enabled devices from being used on school property during school hours. This law includes any smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, or other device capable of connecting to the internet and enabling access to content on the internet, including social media applications. Jamesville-DeWitt High School’s administration put that law into practice by banning students from having both backpacks and the personal devices on their person. Students at J-DHS must store devices in lockers for the 2025-2026 school year, from 7:45 – 2:15. There have been mixed reactions from the faculty and students.
Sophomore Nozila Alibekova says that “Now that we don’t have our phones, when I’m done with my classwork or doing independent work, I can’t listen to music.” Other students like sophomores Layla Al-Mudamgha and Shavya Lakhe agree that the phone ban is not a huge deal and doesn’t think it affects their school day very much. “The no backpacks are kinda hard, as I have to go to the lockers every period,” said sophomore Benji Saluti. He also said that it affects his timing on B and D days as he often arrives late to some classes because his locker is farther away from his classes on those days. However, Saluti said that overall the phone policy isn’t that bad.
Teacher Michael Klemperer says the biggest thing is students being organized and having the right materials for class, but the phone policy makes it easier to not have to police phones all the time. Klemperer says the policy has most definitely been positive for attention spans, and students being engaged in class. Klemperer tries to assist his students in his first period class to remind them to put their phones away. Klemperer also said that he has seen more talking and interactions in his homeroom, which is a change from last year where students were staring at their phones. Now, he says, students are socializing with each other.
Science teacher John Lembeck thinks the law was made because, “Over the last 10-15 years there has been an increase in students relying on their phones.” He now thinks that the school looks more like a high school with all the students interacting with each other. Lembeck said he has also seen an improvement in students’ work ethic as students aren’t rushing to get their work done so they can go on their phones anymore. They take their time and often ask if there is any homework they could get ahead on. Shockingly, Lembeck has not taken a single phone yet, and is hoping it stays that way.
One teacher who said that the ban has hurt her class is Journalism teacher Trinity Conner. “It’s been a real struggle pivoting from using phones to more traditional media equipment, like voice recorders and cameras,” she said. However Conner thinks the ban is beneficial for student well-being.
