New York City’s new cellphone ban in schools has helped increase focus and social engagement, but it has also revealed that some students struggle to read analog clocks. As one teacher lamented, "It finally got to the point where we I started saying ‘Where’s the big hand and where’s the little hand?'"
Despite this issue, the education department emphasizes that time-reading skills are still being taught in elementary school, with a spokesperson noting, "No traditional time-reading skills should be left behind," according to Gothamist. Many students who struggle with analog clocks simply rely on digital devices, while others maintain the ability to read wall clocks without difficulty.
In NYC, schools are enforcing a cellphone ban, with students finding ways to keep their devices while schools use methods like magnetic pouches and dropboxes to collect phones, though some schools face organizational challenges. A spokesperson for NYC schools said, "All internet-based devices are banned in NYC public schools. If it looks like an internet device, it's getting collected," as reported by ABC7NY. Students are adjusting to being without phones, and teachers like Travis Malekpour are using the time to teach skills such as reading clocks and understanding calendars. Experts, including Kris Perry, executive director of Children and Screens, note that the decline in analog skills raises the question of whether it is "a cognitive downgrade or just a replacement," as per Gothamist. Students’ digital skills have also helped teachers manage technical issues in classrooms.
