Talk Out of School

Ban Cellphones in NYC Schools?: Educators & Parents Speak Out

Episode Summary

Daniel shared a news update on potential ban on cell phones in schools city and statewide. He also spoke with Joelle Renstrom, senior lecturer at Boston University and science/science fiction/tech writer. They discussed her perspective and research on the topic. Also, Daniel shared comments and concerns from various NYC educators and parents on the potential impact of the ban.

Episode Notes

Chalkbeat New York - Cell phone ban for NYC schools could come ‘within 2 weeks,’ Chancellor David Banks says

Education Week  - School Cellphone Ban Is Critical for ‘Addicted’ Students, NYC Chancellor Says

Joelle Renstrom's website

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What internet addiction does to the brain:

https://journals.plos.org/mentalhealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmen.0000022
 

UNESCO's report covering 14 countries & recommending a cell phone ban in schools: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000385723
 

97% of teens use their phones during the school day:

https://www.k12dive.com/news/teen-cell-phone-use-schools/694901/
 

JAMA Pediatrics study about the harms of screen time exposure on infants:

https://www.doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.3869
 

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Joelle Renstrom's essays on phones:

https://aeon.co/essays/can-students-who-are-constantly-on-their-devices-actually-learn  (the essay that established relationship with YONDR)

https://aeon.co/ideas/what-happened-when-i-made-my-students-turn-off-their-phones (essay about the YONDR experiment)

http://theconversation.com/is-secondhand-screen-time-the-new-secondhand-smoking-129500 (an opinion piece in which I call "secondhand screen time" the new secondhand smoking).