The Department of Education faces challenges in enforcing phone bans in the classroom due to the detrimental impact on school discipline.

There are rumors circulating about the city Department of Education’s proposal to enforce a ban on cellphones in all 1,600 public schools in the city. Starting in February 2025, students would not be allowed to use phones in school and would have to place them in lockers or pouches provided by the school.

This decision implies a lack of faith in teachers’ ability to control their classrooms.

Without classroom control, effective teaching becomes impossible.

While restricting phone use in schools is important to eliminate distractions, it does not address the larger issue of school and classroom discipline weakened by ineffective policies like “restorative justice.”

Teachers who wish to maintain order in their classrooms are limited in their disciplinary actions, leading to challenges in managing disruptive behavior.

Despite no official decision being made yet, the DOE is considering implementing the ban, showcasing the existing discipline issues within the education system.

The upcoming class-size law will worsen this problem as the hiring of more teachers without sufficient training in classroom management will create further difficulties.

Although banning phones in class is a necessary step, the DOE’s struggle to enact this policy highlights the dysfunction within the education system, driving families to seek alternative schooling options that prioritize students’ needs.