Over the last few decades, the growing popularity of cell phones, especially among teenagers, has resulted in school administrators questioning whether they should allow students to use cell phones during class hours. Before the popularity of cell phones increased, the biggest concern of school administrators was the possibility of drug dealing; however, as the prevalence of cell phones grew, the concerns changed to fears of inappropriate use and distractions. In the early 90’s, states began banning cell phones and pagers in schools as an attempt to stop communication between drug dealers (Ballaro, Ginsburg). According to Patricia O’Neill, a Montgomery school board member, “[t]here was a view that only drug dealers and gang members had cell phones” (de Vise). Because of these views, many schools denied students access to their cell phones during school hours, but as the popularity of cell phone grew within the next two and a half decades, state legislatures started to realize the difficulty of enforcing these bans. In addition to the school administrators’ worries of communication between drug dealers, many educators pushed for the complete ban of cell phones in fear that cell phones would distract students from learning (Ballaro, Ginsburg). Given the opportunity, many teachers worry that students would use their phones throughout their classes rather than learning. Though some school officials still struggle to believe that repealing the bans on cell phones can have beneficial results, Barrington High School in Chicago, Illinois has proven their doubts as wrong. At Barrington, the administration has installed rules that tolerate cell phone use at almost anytime and anywhere, as long as the student does not disrupt the class (Ros... ... middle of paper ... ...1 Mar. 2014 George, Patricia and Cook, Kathryn. “Cell Phone Regulations are not Necessary.” Points of View: Cell Phones in School (2013): 1. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 29 Mar. 2014 Higgins, Josh. "BYOT: Bring Your Own Tech to School." USA TODAY. 08 Aug. 2013: B.6. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. Rossi, Madison. "I Can Use My Cell Phone at School." Chicago Tribune. 17 Oct. 2013: 8. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. Schoenberg, Nara. "Is Your Smartphone Hurting Your GPA?." Chicago Tribune. 17 Mar. 2013: 24. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. Watters, Audrey. “Why Schools Should Stop Banning Cell Phones, and Use Them for Learning.” Pbs.org. 29 July 2011. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. Madden, Mary, Lenhart, Amanda, Duggan, Maeve, Cotesi, Sandra, and Gasser, Urs. “Teens and Technology 2013.” Pewinternet.org. 13 Mar. 2013. Web. 9 April 2014.
According to “Cell Phones in American High Schools: A National Survey,” by John Obringer and Kent Coffey, eighty-four percent of high schools have written policies regarding cell phones and forty-seven percent allow students to carry their p...
One look at an email can rob someone of 15 minutes of focus and one text message can result in someone blowing off something important, like school. Cell phones should not be allowed at Lindbergh High School. Many people disagree on whether or not cell phones should be allowed, but Monique Conrod speaks out the consequences of phones in an article called Schools Divided Over Cellphones in Classrooms. Ms. Conrod announces, “One of the main reasons, for banning cell phones is that they can distract students from their work… the students admitted they... used their [electronics] for things other than school for more than half the time they were in class” (Conrod). If cellphones are allowed in class, then students will not pay attention to what
Educators must discover whether devices, such as cell phones, in the classroom are distractions or aids. According to Deborah R. Tindell and Robert W. Bohlander, “Some argue that cell phones have no place in a classroom setting and others argue that cell phones should be allowed both for safety reasons and as an instructional aid” (Tindell and Bohlander 1). In this spectrum of absolutes, each teacher must evaluate the goals of his or her own class to determine the possibility of whether to encourage or discourage the use of cell phones in the classroom. “One concern involves the distraction caused by the use of cell phones during class” (Tindell and Bohlander 2) However, Prensky argues that “…cell phones complement the short-burst, casual, multitasking style of today’s ‘Digital Native’ learners” (182). He goes on to say that “Using cell phones as learning devices, whether in or out of school, requires a good deal of rethinking and flexibility on the part of the educators” (182). In the English classroom, it is difficult to see where cell phones fit into the puzzle. If a teacher decides to allow cell phones, they should aid learning and not hinder it. Among Prensky’s suggestions on how to implement cell phones, one sticks out as helpful to English teachers: the cell phone camera. Students can use their cell phone cameras as “…tools for scientific data collection, documentation, and visual journalism…” (Prensky 186). Students could use video journalism in particular to learn multimedia literacy. However, teachers should only allow cell phones at certain times to avoid texting in class, or playing
Have you ever heard of the gruesome Columbine High School massacre? This incident occurred on April 20th 1999 and involved two students embarking on a shooting rampage, killing twelve students, a teacher and wounding twenty three others. Unfortunately during this incident, the school's most easily accessible phone was on the other side of the school in the library. Perhaps some of these lives could have been saved if the students in this class had cell phones that they could've used to contact the authorities more quickly. The issue we are addressing today is the use of cellular devices in educational facilities. I believe that cell phone use is of extreme convenience, and has academically beneficial aspects, among it's so called "faults".
Teachers are finding it harder and harder to separate a student from their cell phones for eight hours. Cellular devices and social media have become a number one priority for many people across the world. Due to the fact that the student will not put down their phones during school hours, their grades tend to be lower, which could, in the long run, affect their chances of getting into college. The use of cell phones does not strictly affect younger generations, it also had major influence on adults at the
As you know students aren't aloud to use phones in school because they are too much of a distraction and kids will always be on their phones instead of listening to the teacher and actually learning at school.
Although many teachers might discourage the action of pulling out a cell phone during class time, Preston encourages it. (Camillia Lanham). Technology has become a form of taboo in today’s classrooms. Cell phones are forbidden and journeying anywhere outside of Microsoft on your laptop while in class is considered disrespectful. There are so many educators that choose to look down on a tool that is only becoming more relevant to today’s generation.
One reason that cell phones should be banned from classrooms is because students who use them fall into a daze of distracted learning. Classes are taught by teachers, whose goal is to give the student an educational experience, learning things they will need to apply to their later life. However, students on their cellphones are distracted from their learning and never use the lessons taught. Over 2,000 cellphone disturbances were reported in New York City in the past school year (Backstory). This means that over 2,000 people had issues with cellphones interrupting classroom discussi...
Picture this, there has been a school lockdown, the suspect cut the landlines so no one could call the police for a rescue. However, the suspect was captured by the police much faster than he imagined. The last scene wouldn’t have happened if it was one decade ago, because cell phones were not popular in schools then. When it comes to cell phones, some people think they should not be permitted in schools, and other people think they should be permitted in schools. I agree with the latter opinion for the following reasons: Cell phones are an efficient way to communicate when emergencies occur in school; cell phones can be a great tool for learning during school hours; and the current prohibitive rules on cell phones are merely fruitless efforts.
Staff obviously chose no, because they had never experienced cell phones in school before, when they themselves were students. Back then, cell phones didn't even exist! Adults tend to think that tradition must be maintained. Out of the results, most people actually said that cell phones shouldn't be banned for many reasons. In conclusion, this essay tries to argue that cell phones are valuable tools in schools.
There are many problems are originated from using cell phones so why do we need to change our school policy. If cell phones are available to use in our school, we will have the same issues that other schools have gotten as what I bring up. Again, let’s say “no” to changing the policy.
Higgins, Josh. “More Schools use Cell Phones as Learning Tools.” USA Today. N.p., 7 Aug. 2013. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.
Can you see yourself without a cell phone today? This world has become so technologically dependent that it is hard for anyone to not use a cell phone, a computer, or some sort of device at least once during the day. Since technology has come so far, better education should be possible. Cell phones are a way of communication and can make people feel safe, so it is hard to believe that most schools ban them. It is time for schools to see that technology is the future and it is growing rapidly, along with educational and safety features.
Electronics are a huge part of our society. “Out of the world’s estimated 7 billion people, 6 billion have access to mobile phones” (Wang). Over thousands of these cell phones are owned by students K-12. A major debate topic is should cell phones be allowed in schools? “Twenty-four percent of schools have banned mobile devices altogether and sixty-two percent allow them on school grounds, but not in the classroom” (Raths). Cell phones should not be allowed in school because children focus more on the phone than schoolwork, it will create more drama, and it promotes cheating.
Today’s cell phone is the front line technology at our fingertips. Keeping this in mind the use of cell phones have become an affair when it comes to allowing teens to use them in educational environments, such as schools. One part of society supports the use of cell phones while the other part of society disapproves the use of cell phones. I personally believe that cell phones should not only be allowed in school, but cell phones should be mandatory just like a textbook. Cell phones do not only allow students to stay united with friends and family, but cell phones are also a magnificent learning system, and they boost the liable use of technology.