Cellphones in schools distract from teaching and learning and can threaten students’ mental health by feeding an addiction to social media. Barring them from classrooms makes sense, but any citywide ban has to be carefully conceived and implemented. We oppose educators being told to use instructional time to collect phones or being the first or sole line of enforcement.

Our snapshot survey of school-based UFT members in July found that 63% supported a citywide cellphone ban. Of the 3,685 members who filled out the survey, half said their schools already had a ban in place, but 40% of those members declared their school’s ban a failure, with most blaming a lack of planning and organization.

The DOE, which has paused its plans to implement an across-the-board ban this school year, should learn from the successes and failures with these school-level bans. What has worked best in elementary schools is requiring students to keep phones in backpacks and turned off. In middle and high schools, the most effective bans require that students hand in their phones upon entering the building.

UFT members who took the survey stressed that early and clear communication with parents, students and staff was the only way to ensure a successful launch.

Other conditions that should be met: The money to implement a ban must come from the DOE coffers, not school budgets. Enforcement must be fair and uniform. And schools must set up emergency contact lines in case parents need to reach their children.

If and when the DOE moves forward, we are ready to collaborate.