Cyprus Times

NYC Schools Ban on Smartphones Reveals Students Can't Tell Time

Published December 30, 2025, 17:12
NYC Schools Ban on Smartphones Reveals Students Can't Tell Time

An unexpected consequence of the smartphone ban in New York City schools is the discovery that many students have forgotten how to read analog clocks. The ban, which took effect on September 4th, 2025, aimed to improve student concentration and socialization, and teachers are reporting positive results in these areas. However, the lack of access to smartphones has revealed a gap in basic skills, as students have become accustomed to checking the time only through their mobile devices. Teachers report that students are constantly asking for the time, as they struggle to understand the display on the analog clocks in classrooms. This situation has become tiring for teachers, who are forced to explain how an analog clock works. A high school assistant principal in Queens described reading the time as a basic skill that many students no longer possess. Students themselves admit that they have forgotten how to read analog clocks, as they haven't needed to in their daily lives. A 14-year-old student stated that she knows how to read a clock, but struggles when the hands are not properly aligned. The smartphone ban has highlighted the need to maintain and teach traditional skills, such as telling time. Despite the difficulties with clocks, teachers insist that the smartphone ban has positive effects on school life. Students are more focused in class, socialize more during breaks, and move around school grounds more organized. The New York City Department of Education recognizes the importance of preserving these traditional skills and is exploring ways to help students regain them.