After Phone Ban in Schools, Students in New York Struggle to Read Analog Clocks
The ban on mobile phone use in schools in the U.S. state of New York has revealed an unexpected situation. Teachers report that many high school students are unable to read the analog clocks found in classrooms and have difficulty telling the time during the school day. It is noted that students who are accustomed to digital devices have gradually forgotten basic skills such as reading a clock because they no longer use them regularly.
Teachers explain that classrooms typically have only wall-mounted analog clocks, and students struggle to determine how much time remains until the end of a lesson. Tiana Millen, an assistant principal at Cardozo High School in Queens, emphasized that reading an analog clock is no longer a familiar skill for students and that many are unable to distinguish between the hour and minute hands.
Some students stated that they learned how to read clocks in the early years of elementary school but lost this skill over time due to constant smartphone use. It is also reported that the smartphone ban, which took effect statewide on September 4 for the 2025–2026 academic year, has improved student focus in class and increased social interaction.