In the aftermath of the New York State phone ban across schools, in addition to the implementation of remote learning days for inclement weather, the New York City Department of Education has begun supplying new, mandatory devices to all students across the five boroughs.
These devices include both Chromebooks and iPads, both which students are required to get from the school they attend and sign a contract to use. Once issued a device, students are required by school administration to bring the devices to and from school daily, using them in all of their classes, as well.
This new policy has had a lot of different views. Some think that having technology in the classroom is a necessary thing, while others find it to be contradictory to what the state has been trying to do all along with banning cell phones in schools.
Georgia Katsanos, a Cardozo junior, believes the devices go against the whole idea of a “phone free” or a distraction free environment. In addition, she feels as though there are a lot of problems that come about with giving students devices when they take the bus.
“Students have to deal with issues with other students, public transportation, and WiFi which makes it harder to keep our devices safe and able to use,” she explained.
Junior Siena Lin, however, thinks the devices are needed in the classroom. “The devices are necessary for our educational use,” she explained. “Since we can’t use our personal devices anymore, we should have a form of instructions that can be used electronically.”
Although the school prioritized giving underclassmen the devices first, some seniors were also confused as to why they needed them with graduation just around the corner.
A current senior, who has chosen to stay anonymous, believes that devices are unnecessary for their grades. “I feel like it’s more responsibility because we would be required to give the devices back before we leave for college,” they explained.
Another senior, Johnson, also agreed. “As a senior, it feels like there’s no point in having us require devices…if the school/DOE wanted to, they should have implemented this decision months prior when school first started,” he said.
And, although some teachers argue that the devices can be helpful for exam prepping in class, specifically for AP courses, some students feel that there could be alternatives such as having optional work to do after school or being able to store devices in a safe location where they are easily accessible to students.
Not all teachers are on board for devices in the classroom, either. Journalism teacher Mrs. Gutterman thinks that classes that require technology, such as Journalism production courses, already have access to computer labs for their specific class needs. In addition, having to use the devices in classes will create problems.
“Students are still kids, and they won’t always remember to bring their device in or charge it the night before, which creates a huge divide when we are supposed to use them in the classroom,” Mrs. Gutterman. “If a few students don’t have their devices or they are not charged and I’m expecting the entire class to complete something, then it derails the whole lesson for that day.”
She also explained that it can become an issue with AI use for assignments or simply looking answers up. “I don’t want to assign English course work and have to worry that students are on Google looking up the answers, which I believe the phone ban solved,” Mrs. Gutterman explained. “Now, having devices opens that issue right back up again.”
Not all students are interested in getting a device, as well. Some argue that there are only three months left in the school year and AP exams are in May, resulting in a lack of mandated need. Despite this, Principal Colby stated at a recent Principal’s Council meeting that teachers are going to be “required” to use them in the classroom, as are students, too.
