ALBANY, NY (WENY)--Monday GOV. KATHY HOCHUL STARTED A STATEWIDE LISTENING TOUR ABOUT CELL PHONE USE IN SCHOOLS.  

ACCORDING TO A RECENT POLL FROM THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER, 72 PERCENT OF HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS NATIONWIDE SAid THAT STUDENTS BEING DISTRACTED BY CELL PHONES IS A MAJOR PROBLEM IN THE CLASSROOM.
 
“This generation more than others is being subjected to distractions that never existed the way they are now,” said Hochul. 
 
CURRENTLY CELL PHONE POLICIES IN NEW YORK'S SCHOOLS ARE IMPLEMENTED LOCALLY DISTRICT BY DISTRICT. AND WHEN DISTRICTS HAVE TRIED TO LIMIT PHONE USAGE– MANY WERE MET WITH OPPOSITION.
 
AS A RESULT, GOV. HOCHUL SAid IT MAY BE TIME FOR THE STATE TO STEP IN. 
 
“Sometimes it’s just easier to blame the Governor and the state of New York when you want something done, I’ve taken that responsibility in a number of initiatives where sometimes it’s just easier. I said, ‘I don’t mind being heavy because we’re all fighting for our kids,’” she said. 
 
ITS ESTIMATED THAT MORE THAN 70 PERCENT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE U.S. HAVE CELL PHONE BANS FOR STUDENTS.
 
IN NEW YORK, HOCHUL SAid SHE HAS A NUMBER OF OPTIONS RELATED TO A STATEWIDE APPROACH, BUT THAT SHE PLANS TO HEAR FROM MORE SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE BEFORE TAKING ACTION.  
 
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT ROUGHLY 97 PERCENT OF 11 TO 17 YeaR OLD STUDENTS ADMIT TO USING THEIR PHONES DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.