The ban on cell phones in New York City public schools was lifted by the de Blasio Administration on March 22, 2015. Although the ban was lifted, school principals were given discretion over lifting or keeping the ban in their respective schools.

Bruce Abramowitz, the principal of the High School of Computers and Technology, one of six small schools at the Evander Childs Educational Complex in the Williamsbridge section of the Bronx, lifted the phone ban in his school on the condition that they would be used during lunch, after school or when given permission in a class by a teacher.

Fast forward to this year. Abramowitz reversed his position on the left, once again banning after students pushed the agreed upon conditions to the limit and sometimes, some breaking them. In an announcement over the school’s PA system, Abramovitz said that a big reason he reinstated the ban is because students had been recording videos of fights in the school and had been posting them on social media websites, such as YouTube. Abramowitz said over the PA he believed posting those kinds of videos hurts the school’s reputation.

Dave Wills, the assistant principal and an AP English literature and composition teacher at the school said, “There were reports of students going to the bathrooms and using their phones. Also, they were using the phones in class during tests and work,” which could also have motivated Abramovitz’s reversal.

When asked about his opinion of the ban, Wills said, “I’m in the middle of this. As a teacher, it never bothered me. Administratively, I was happy about this because teachers were happy about this due to the fact that it poses less distractions.”

Phones brought to school are kept in ID-specific bags assigned to them and held by a staff member not responsible if a phone goes missing (as per a contract signed by participating students in the beginning of the year). If the student does not remember the number, there is also a picture of each student on the bag to help identify them.

Students expressed varying opinions of the phone ban. “It is what it is,” said Steve Couvertier, 16, a junior. “[Abramowitz] gave us an opportunity to use our phones. We abused our opportunity and we paid the consequences.”

Senior Sean Peña, 18, said he thought Abramowitz banned cell phones in order to prevent students at other schools from disturbing High School of Computers and Technology students during the school day. “But it’s not fair for us,” Peña said. “We have to suffer the consequences because of others. I think the ban should be lifted on just our school.”

Some students like Garfield Philips, 17, and in his junior year in high school, have a similar take to that of Wills. “In its own right, I think he [Abramowitz] had a good reason to ban the phone. But I don’t think he had our best interests at heart. He just did it to protect the school’s image,” Garfield said.

Abramowitz was unable to be reached for comment regarding his decision and school announcement to reinstate the cell phone ban.