The New York Post has uncovered a startling consequence of New York City’s ban on cellphones in schools [1]: It’s sucking $4.2 million a year from kids’ pockets into the coffers of enterprising local businesses, the Huffington Post reports. Mobile storage trucks and bodegas located near schools where the rule is enforced are charging $1 per day to store devices for students who can’t take their phones to class, according to the report. And the fees are adding up, especially for low-income students.
“I cut back on food for the sake of my phone,” said Emily Luna, a 17-year old student at a high school in Brooklyn, in an interview with the Post. “I try to cut down on whatever I buy so I have enough to store my phone.”
The city’s controversial ban [2] on gadgets in schools has incited strong opposition [3] from parents and students since schools started cracking down on cellphones six years ago [4]. Parents have argued that not allowing their children to have cellphones is a safety issue. Students have said that phones can be used as an educational tool [5] and assist with cumbersome commutes. A recent robbery at one gadget storage truck [6] has renewed such criticism…
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