What teens in New Jersey think about schools' cell phone restrictions

NPR | By Janet W. Lee,

Student Podcast Challenge

Published November 24, 2025 at 5:09 PM EST

Many states and school districts now ban or restrict the use of cell phones in schools. But what do the kids think about this? Student journalists in New Jersey brought this question to their classmates and teachers.

This story features excerpts from two standout entries from the 2025 NPR Student Podcast Challenge:

Cellular Usage by Aria Palmisano, Saniyah Alam, Elijah Ver Hoven and Anthony Puglise at Mount Olive Middle School in Budd Lake, N.J.
Should Phones be Banned in Classrooms? by Ben Balian, Jack Martin and Gaia Albeniz at Bernards High School in Bernardsville, N.J.

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