The Brian Lehrer Show Phone-Free Schools
Nov 11, 2025
New York schools now enforce a smartphone ban, sparking lively discussions among teachers, parents, and students. A middle school teacher highlights a locker system that boosts social interaction, while another praises an innovative pouch system for classroom management. Concerns arise about emergency access and students finding alternative distractions. A high schooler questions enforcement effectiveness and privacy issues. One New Jersey teacher notes the ban fosters a more tolerant classroom environment, reducing covert disruptions.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Lockers Reignite Student Interaction
- Megan, a Westchester middle school teacher, says students keep phones in lockers all day and engagement rose.
- She reports kids interact more and hallways feel livelier without screens.
Phones Suppress In-Person Socializing
- Multiple teachers note higher classroom engagement and better peer behavior after the ban.
- Lunchtimes and hallways became louder and more socially active without phones.
Pouch System Praised By Teachers
- Kate, a Brooklyn middle school teacher, describes a pouch system where phones are locked until day's end.
- She calls it the best change since she began teaching and says it improved the school environment.