Buffalo, NY (WBEN) The president of the Buffalo Teachers Federation says he's in favor of Governor Hochul's proposal to ban cell phone use in the classroom. But he admits getting students to comply will be one of the challenges.
Buffalo Teachers Federation President Rich Nigro says cell phones in the classroom have been a bit of problem for teachers, in particular when it comes to doing their job. "In terms of not only distractions, but it can be poses a safety issue as well," says Nigro. "There's countless instances of bullying that takes place. There are times when students might use their phones and communicate with one another to organize, and at times, instances of violence. It just it creates a big problem when you're trying to do when you're trying to do your job is teaching," he adds..
When it comes to compliance, Nigro says it's not as easy as a teacher telling a student to put the cell phone away. "A big part of teaching is forging relationships with the kids, and when you're dealing with children, they're not numbers, they're not things, and so that that may present a talent challenge, just like parenting, so you you have to have a relationship with the kids," explains Nigro. But he says even that doesn't necessarily mean that a kid's going to comply with a directive from a teacher or an administrator or any staff member in the building when it comes to even a simple request, such as put away your cell phones.
Nigro says it will take a village to get kids to put phones away in school. "Parents, teachers, administrators, you have to at least have that piece working. I don't know that it always does work, and it's one of the things that I'm trying to do, and my administration is trying to do, and and our teachers try to bring folks to the table to collaborate," explains Nigro.
How does the rank and file feel about the ban? "I think the general consensus is that is that not having them present would hopefully lend to the more fulfilling instruction, hopefully better student learning could occur without these distractions," says Nigro. He concedes some would find instances where having that cell phone can be very useful.
The state legislature must approve the ban.
