A statewide listening tour organized by Governor Kathy Hochul that’s focused on addressing smartphone use in schools started Monday. According to the Governor’s Office, this listening tour will include roundtable discussions with key stakeholders over the coming months.
According to a Pew Research poll released in June, 72 percent of high school teachers nationwide say that students being distracted by cell phones is a major problem in their classroom. As part of her commitment to addressing this issue and creating more positive outcomes for students, families, and educators, Governor Hochul stated this spring that she plans to propose a statewide policy to tackle excessive smartphone use in schools.
“We can help our young people succeed in the classroom by ensuring they’re learning and growing – not clicking and scrolling,” Governor Hochul said. “That’s why I’m working with all stakeholders across the state to develop effective solutions on smartphones that help protect our kids’ mental health and deliver the best results for our schools.”
Monday’s kickoff roundtable was held at Guilderland High School in the Capital Region and included administrators and teachers from several different schools. Additional roundtables over the coming months will be held across the state with a wide array of educators, parents, students, and advocates.
Participants at Monday’s roundtable included:
- Dr. Marie Wiles, Superintendent of Schools, Guilderland Central School District
- Joseph Hochreiter, Superintendent of Schools, City School District of Albany
- David Blanchard, Superintendent of Schools, Schoharie Central School District
- Erin McNamara, 11th Grade Teacher, Guilderland High School
- Molly Stammel, 9th and 10th Grade Teacher, Shenendehowa High School
- Melinda Person, President, NYSUT
Additional roundtable discussions with educators, parents, students and other advocates will be held over the coming months.
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