Gov. Kathy Hochul continues to drum up support for her bell-to-bell cellphone ban in schools.

Her “More Learning, Less Scrolling” campaign takes effect this fall. It affects everyone in kindergarten through 12th grade at public, charter and BOCES schools.

“There were those who were opposed. They said it couldn’t be done. They tried to spread misleading information about this,” said Hochul at New York State United Teachers headquarters in Latham on Tuesday morning. “They sure as heck didn’t know who they’re messing with, because I had 700,000 members of NYSUT on my side and many other supporters.”

The ban also includes lunch and study hall.

“We knew that you had that distraction, that temptation sitting in their pocket that you could whip out during lunch or study hall. They would never even talk to another student during study hall or lunch, so it defeated the purpose of giving children and students their childhood back,” Hochul said.

A number of Capital Region schools have already put a similar ban in place. That includes Farnsworth Middle School in Guilderland.

“Since the cell phone ban, the lunchroom has become much more social,” said Anika Bhupati, an eighth grader at the school. “Instead of everyone being glued to their screens, students are actually talking to each other. Friendships have deepened, and there’s a noticeable increase in laughter and conversations. It’s a more connected atmosphere.”

Hochul echoed the eighth grader when it came to human connection.

“I think there should be laughter in the hallways again, I think there should be human voices that you hear in gym class. I want our kids to make eye-to-eye contact again. I want them to enjoy the experience of real human connection, not just through a screen,” she said.

Hochul also hopes it lifts a weight off teachers’ shoulders, who will no longer have to compete for students’ attention.

“We want our teachers to feel liberated to teach again,” Hochul said. “I want the laughter, I want the teachers to do what they can do, I want the kids to be free.”