Summary:
New York City's public schools welcomed back nearly a million students on Thursday.
Mayor Eric Adams and Chancellor David Banks visited a Brooklyn elementary school to celebrate the first day.
The city is focused on addressing issues like cellphone usage, mental health, and teacher shortages.
Over half of city schools are expected to have some form of phone restrictions in place this year.
The Department of Education is studying the impact of phone bans in schools.
NYC's Health Commissioner will recommend that schools limit cellphone use.
The city is prioritizing student well-being and understanding the potential negative effects of social media.
NYC teens have free access to online therapy and mental health support.
NYC Schools Tackle Phone Use and Mental Health on First Day
New York City's public schools welcomed back nearly a million students on Thursday, marking the start of a new academic year. Mayor Eric Adams and Chancellor David Banks kicked off the day by visiting an elementary school in Brooklyn, giving high fives to excited kids.
However, the excitement was tempered by serious concerns regarding cellphone usage and student mental health. The city is grappling with the implementation of a new smaller class size law, a teacher shortage, and growing anxieties among students.
While New York State is considering a statewide cellphone ban in schools, NYC is taking a more measured approach. Over half of city schools are expected to have some form of phone restrictions in place during the 2024-2025 school year, and the Department of Education is carefully studying their impact.
Chancellor Banks emphasized that the city isn't aiming for a system-wide ban but rather wants to learn from the various strategies implemented in different schools. Mayor Adams added that Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan will issue a strong recommendation for city schools to limit cellphone use.
The mayor acknowledged the negative effects social media can have on young people, saying, "What we don't want to do is put out a ban and then have to reverse it. We want to do it right and make sure students understand why we're doing it."
The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene recently released a report linking frequent social media use to increased anxiety and depression symptoms in teenagers and adults. While acknowledging the potential pitfalls of social media, mental health experts recommend mindful usage and talk therapy to mitigate the negative impacts of constant internet connection.
NYC teens have access to free online therapy and mental health support, a reminder from the Department of Health as the school year begins.
Generation Text: Phone Ban Impact on Students
Other school districts in New York state have already implemented their own phone bans. Watch NBC New York's "Generation Text" report to learn more about the experiences of students in Newburgh who are living with these restrictions.
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