Long Island students return to school amid new statewide cellphone ban
ROOSEVELT, Long Island (WABC) -- Teachers on Long Island welcomed back students to the classroom on Tuesday.
A new year always brings new challenges and experiences - and the biggest one this year is the new statewide ban on cellphones.
Eyewitness News spent the morning inside Roosevelt High School as the students acclimated to their new Yondr pouch system where phones and all their accessories go inside a pouch that can only be unlocked with a mechanism.
While not all the students loved locking up their phones, it was a welcome change for educators who have been battling content on social media and streaming channels as they try to teach basic math and science.
"But it can't compete with TikTok Reels and FIFA on their phone and those types of things, so I'm happy now that I could be the entertainment," said 10th-grade science teacher Matthew Antis.
In terms of enforcement, a lot remains to be seen. For one thing, the district says they did not realize the release systems can actually be purchased online.
"We're all looking to see if whether or not potentially that might be something that could happen here, but we're hopeful it won't," said Roosevelt Schools Superintendent Dr. Shawn Wightman.
There is also no plan for a backup when school technology fails.
"Honestly like if something's wrong with your Chromebook, first thing they're gonna say is, 'use your phone,' I don't have my phone, now what do I do?" said 12th-grader Desirae Garrett.
However, looking at the lunchroom on Tuesday, teens could be seen sitting around tables and talking face to face instead of staring at their phones.
"They're gonna have to be forced to do that now and we're all very excited about this," Wightman said.
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