""We've had a lot more school spirit," says Rosalmi, a senior at New Heights Academy Charter School in Harlem. "People are more willing to do stuff." Rosalmi's preferred phone-free pastime is dominoes, which has become a hit during lunch breaks, as much for its actual gameplay as it is an excuse for fun trash talk. "Dominoes is really a staple Dominican game," she told NYMag. "People get passionate. You have to slam that first piece down on the table!""
"Noshin Sayiram, a junior at Stuyvesant High School, told NYMag that when the phones were first banned, there was a lot of grumbling from students that without their devices, it was more cumbersome to cram homework - or last minute quiz prep - between classes. Now, she prints out her study guides and finds that paper is way more effective for learning. "I don't get distracted by notifications," she told NYMag."
New York implemented a bell-to-bell smartphone ban in schools this September to create a distraction-free learning environment. The ban coincided with a marked rise in face-to-face socializing and analog activities during lunch and breaks. Students are playing cards, dominoes, board games, and organizing volleyball with balanced participation across genders. Some students have adopted low-stakes poker using hair ties as wagers. Initial grumbling about cramming between classes gave way to students printing study guides and reporting improved focus without notifications. Teachers report higher school spirit and greater willingness to engage in communal, offline activities.
Read at Futurism
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