student should not bring mobile phone to school essay

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Bans may help protect classroom focus, but districts need to stay mindful of students’ sense of connection, experts say

Students around the world are being separated from their phones.

In 2020, the National Center for Education Statistics reported that 77 percent of U.S. schools had moved to prohibit cellphones for nonacademic purposes. In September 2018, French lawmakers outlawed cellphone use for schoolchildren under the age of 15. In China, phones were banned country-wide for schoolchildren last year.

Supporters of these initiatives have cited links between smartphone use and bullying and social isolation and the need to keep students focused on schoolwork.

77% Of U.S. schools moved to ban cellphones for nonacademic purposes as of 2020, according to the National Center for Education Statistics

But some Harvard experts say instructors and administrators should consider learning how to teach with tech instead of against it, in part because so many students are still coping with academic and social disruptions caused by the pandemic. At home, many young people were free to choose how and when to use their phones during learning hours. Now, they face a school environment seeking to take away their main source of connection.

“Returning back to in-person, I think it was hard to break the habit,” said Victor Pereira, a lecturer on education and co-chair of the Teaching and Teaching Leadership Program at the Graduate School of Education.

Through their students, he and others with experience both in the classroom and in clinical settings have seen interactions with technology blossom into important social connections that defy a one-size-fits-all mindset. “Schools have been coming back, trying to figure out, how do we readjust our expectations?” Pereira added.

It’s a hard question, especially in the face of research suggesting that the mere presence of a smartphone can undercut learning .

Michael Rich , an associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and an associate professor of social and behavioral sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, says that phones and school don’t mix: Students can’t meaningfully absorb information while also texting, scrolling, or watching YouTube videos.

“The human brain is incapable of thinking more than one thing at a time,” he said. “And so what we think of as multitasking is actually rapid-switch-tasking. And the problem with that is that switch-tasking may cover a lot of ground in terms of different subjects, but it doesn’t go deeply into any of them.”

Pereira’s approach is to step back — and to ask whether a student who can’t resist the phone is a signal that the teacher needs to work harder on making a connection. “Two things I try to share with my new teachers are, one, why is that student on the phone? What’s triggering getting on your cell phone versus jumping into our class discussion, or whatever it may be? And then that leads to the second part, which is essentially classroom management.

“Design better learning activities, design learning activities where you consider how all of your students might want to engage and what their interests are,” he said. He added that allowing phones to be accessible can enrich lessons and provide opportunities to use technology for school-related purposes.

Mesfin Awoke Bekalu, a research scientist in the Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness at the Chan School, argues that more flexible classroom policies can create opportunities for teaching tech-literacy and self-regulation.

“There is a huge, growing body of literature showing that social media platforms are particularly helpful for people who need resources or who need support of some kind, beyond their proximate environment,” he said. A study he co-authored by Rachel McCloud and Vish Viswanath for the Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness shows that this is especially true for marginalized groups such as students of color and LGBTQ students. But the findings do not support a free-rein policy, Bekalu stressed.

In the end, Rich, who noted the particular challenges faced by his patients with attention-deficit disorders and other neurological conditions, favors a classroom-by-classroom strategy. “It can be managed in a very local way,” he said, adding: “It’s important for parents, teachers, and the kids to remember what they are doing at any point in time and focus on that. It’s really only in mono-tasking that we do very well at things.”

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Why Students Should Not Be Allowed to Use Their Cellphones in Class? Essay

Introduction.

The job of a teacher is both highly rewarding and demanding. Educators need to dedicate their efforts, knowledge, time, and passion to their work in order to do it in a truly productive way and reach the most positive outcomes. However, this profession is also quite stressful: students may be ill-disciplined and inattentive, which leads to distractions during classes. Ironic as it is, the greatest of such diversions occur due to technological development.

Cellphones, which were devised to offer people more mobility and convenience, have become the nightmare of professors because their students are constantly distracted during lectures and seminars. Even though one may receive an important message occasionally, it seems that the use of cell phones should be forbidden during classes.

The major reason why mobile phones should not be allowed in class is that they distract students from their primary goal and duty: obtaining an education. According to research, young people check their mobiles every 15-20 minutes (Kamenetz). Taking into account the average duration of a class, it is possible to conclude that each learner gets distracted at least 3-4 times. Consequently, much significant information is missed out, leading to further misunderstanding of the topic or even the whole subject.

Thus, students should not use their cell phones in order to increase their learning abilities and enhance their understanding of the issues learned. Scholarly research indicates that the heavy use of smartphones is directly related to lower-quality sleep and lower GPAs (Kamenetz). Since the purpose of education is to make young people smarter and more knowledgeable, it is obvious that cellphones constitute a serious obstacle in the way to gaining knowledge and learning valuable information. Some subjects may be easier to catch up with, but there are complicated studies that require full-time attention and presence.

Thus, it is necessary to limit the number of times students should be allowed to use their devices at schools, colleges, and universities. It is crucial to create the most comfortable conditions for learners, but they frequently abuse the right to convenience. Every student should realize that personal life should not affect educational achievements. Moreover, it is quite often that students do not solve any serious problems with their family or other close ones, merely browsing social websites or checking the news. Therefore, the limited use of cell phones during classes would be beneficial for learners: they would spend all their time concentrating on the new material rather than diverting their attention from important issues.

Another problem associated with the use of cell phones in classes is that professors cannot reach the highest outcomes of their work. There are many types of classes, as well as various kinds of student work, each of which demands proper attention and dedication on the part of not only the teacher but also students. Educators whose students constantly get distracted feel stressed out and do not consider themselves content with their work. According to the study performed by professors at the University of Colorado Boulder, over three-fourths of undergraduate students admit texting during classes (Kamenetz).

Furthermore, such in-class texting is connected with the average drop of “half a letter grade” in a course (Kamenetz). It is viable to note that professors suffer not only from students’ disrespectful behavior towards them but also from learners’ poor achievements. Therefore, the second reason why cell phones should be banned during classes is closely associated with the first one, but it is more teacher-centered. Poor results prevent learners from participating in group or class activities effectively. For instance, a student that missed some important information because of using a smartphone during a lecture will not be able to contribute to a project as well as his or her peers who were attentive.

Since teachers’ job is giving knowledge to students, the former become upset when the latter pays little or no attention to them. Thus, professors try to come up with solutions to the problem of using cell phones in classes. One of the proposed approaches, made by Doug Duncan, is offering a participation point for turning off a mobile phone and leaving it on the professor’s desk during the class (Kamenetz). Thus, it is possible to find creative solutions for the problem, and some professors already work in this direction.

At the same time, there are scholars that disapprove of taking cell phones away from students. A research psychologist at California State University, Larry Rosen, notes that “simply incentivizing” learners to turn off their phones is not a good idea (Kamenetz). Rosen remarks that taking away the phone does not reduce the level of distraction. Students keep thinking about all the messages and notifications they are probably missing, which leads to stress and anxiety.

To prove his point, Rosen performed some experiments which indicated that students’ heart rate and other vital signs increased when they heard their mobiles ring but were not able to answer them (Kamenetz). Thus, Rosen argues that keeping cellphones in learner’s sight but out of their reach intensifies anxiety, which leads to distraction. Instead, the researcher suggests making “tech breaks” at measured intervals to allow students check on their devices and reduce anxiety (Kamenetz).

Rosen suggests starting with a fifteen-minute interval and gradually moving to a thirty-minute period without students looking at their cellphones. Although this idea sounds good, it seems that the overwhelming problem of smartphone dependence has reached too serious a point. It seems that strict measures are necessary not only for reducing students’ distraction levels but also for teaching them not to be so attached to their mobiles.

People that abuse the use of applications and social media tend to be less concentrated in all spheres of life: in the shops, while driving a car, or even when communicating with their children. Therefore, helping individuals to cope with their dependence at a student age can promote their better understanding of real values in the future. Thus, the suggestion made by Duncan is more helpful than the one made by Rosen.

While a student may occasionally receive an important message during a class, the majority of cases when learners check their cellphones are associated only with checking updates and browsing social websites. Therefore, students should not be allowed to use these gadgets during their classes. Getting distracted leads to poor academic results and can prevent one from finding a good job in the future.

Moreover, since research indicates that the level of anxiety increases when a cellphone is taken away for a short time, it is crucial to train students to be less dependent on their devices. Thus, finding solutions to this problem is a better idea than keeping learners use their phones only because they feel bad without them.

Kamenetz, Ania. “ How to Get Students to Stop Using Their Cellphones in Class. ” National Public Radio . 2015. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2021, June 18). Why Students Should Not Be Allowed to Use Their Cellphones in Class? https://ivypanda.com/essays/why-students-should-not-be-allowed-to-use-their-cellphones-in-class/

"Why Students Should Not Be Allowed to Use Their Cellphones in Class?" IvyPanda , 18 June 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/why-students-should-not-be-allowed-to-use-their-cellphones-in-class/.

IvyPanda . (2021) 'Why Students Should Not Be Allowed to Use Their Cellphones in Class'. 18 June.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Why Students Should Not Be Allowed to Use Their Cellphones in Class?" June 18, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/why-students-should-not-be-allowed-to-use-their-cellphones-in-class/.

1. IvyPanda . "Why Students Should Not Be Allowed to Use Their Cellphones in Class?" June 18, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/why-students-should-not-be-allowed-to-use-their-cellphones-in-class/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Why Students Should Not Be Allowed to Use Their Cellphones in Class?" June 18, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/why-students-should-not-be-allowed-to-use-their-cellphones-in-class/.

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Why Schools Should Ban Cell Phones in the Classroom—and Why Parents Have to Help

New study shows it takes a young brain 20 minutes to refocus after using a cell phone in a classroom

Photo by skynesher/iStock

Parents, the next time you are about to send a quick trivial text message to your students while they’re at school—maybe sitting in a classroom—stop. And think about this: it might take them only 10 seconds to respond with a thumbs-up emoji, but their brain will need 20 minutes to refocus on the algebra or history or physics lesson in front of them— 20 minutes .

That was just one of the many findings in a recent report from a 14-country study by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) that prompted this headline in the Washington Post : “Schools should ban smartphones. Parents should help.” The study recommends a ban on smartphones at school for students of all ages, and says the data are unequivocal, showing that countries that enforce restrictions see improved academic performance and less bullying.

It’s a fraught debate, one that prompts frustration among educators, who say students are less focused than ever as schools struggle to enforce cell phone limitation policies, and rage from some parents, worrying about a possible shooting when they can’t get in touch, who insist they need to be able to reach their children at all times. And, perhaps surprisingly, it prompts a collective yawn from students.

In fact, students openly admit their cell phones distract them and that they focus better in school without them, says Joelle Renstrom , a senior lecturer in rhetoric at Boston University’s College of General Studies. It’s an issue she has studied for years. She even performed an experiment with her students that supports what she long suspected: Cell Phones + Classrooms = Bad Learning Environment.

BU Today spoke with Renstrom about the latest study and research.

with Joelle Renstrom

Bu today: let me get right to the point. do we as a society need to be better about restricting cell phones in classrooms it seems so obvious..

Renstrom: Of course. But it is easier said than done. It’s hard to be consistent. We will always have students with some kind of reason, or a note from someone, that gives them access to technology. And then it becomes hard to explain why some people can have it and some people can’t. But student buy-in to the idea is important.

BU Today: But is getting students to agree more important than getting schools and parents to agree? Is it naive to think that students are supposed to follow the rules that we as parents and teachers set for them?

Renstrom: I have made the case before that addiction to phones is kind of like second-hand smoking. If you’re young and people around you are using it, you are going to want it, too. Every baby is like that. They want to reach for it, it’s flashing, their parents are on it all the time. Students openly acknowledge they are addicted. Their digital lives are there. But they also know there is this lack of balance in their lives. I do think buy-in is important. But do it as an experiment. Did it work? What changes did it make? Did it make you anxious or distracted during those 50 minutes in class? I did that for years. I surveyed students for a number of semesters; how do you feel about putting your phone in a pouch? They made some predictions and said what they thought about how annoying it was. But at the end, they talked about how those predictions [played out], and whether they were better able to focus. It was very, very clear they were better able to focus. Also interestingly, not a single student left during class to get a drink or go to the bathroom. They had been 100 percent doing that just so they could use their phone.

BU Today: Should we be talking about this question, cell phones in classrooms, for all ages, middle school all the way through college? Or does age matter?

Renstrom: It’s never going to be universal. Different families, different schools. And there is, on some level, a safety issue. I do not blame parents for thinking, if there’s someone with a gun in school, I need a way to reach my kids. What if all the phones are in pouches when someone with a gun comes in? It’s crazy that we even have to consider that.

BU Today: What’s one example of something that can be changed easily?

Renstrom: Parents need to stop calling their kids during the day. Stop doing that. What you are doing is setting that kid up so that they are responding to a bot 24-7 when they shouldn’t be. If you’re a kid who gets a text from your parent in class, you are conditioned to respond and to know that [the parent] expects a response. It adds so much anxiety to people’s lives. It all just ends up in this anxiety loop. When kids are in school, leave them alone. Think about what that phone is actually meant for. When you gave them a phone, you said it’s in case of an emergency or if you need to be picked up in a different place. Make those the parameters. If it’s just to confirm, “I’m still picking you up at 3,” then no, don’t do that. Remember when we didn’t have to confirm? There is a time and place for this, for all technology.

BU Today: This latest study, how do you think people will react to it?

Renstrom: This isn’t new. How many studies have to come out to say that cured meat is terrible and is carcinogenic. People are like, “Oh, don’t tell me what to eat. Or when to be on my phone.” This gets real contentious, real fast because telling people what’s good for them is hard.

BU Today: I can understand that—but in this case we’re not telling adults to stop being on their phones. We’re saying help get your kids off their phones in classrooms, for their health and education.

Renstrom: Studies show kids’ brains, and their gray matter, are low when they are on screens. School is prime habit-forming time. You should not sit in class within view of the professor, laughing while they are talking about World War II. There is a social appropriateness that needs to be learned. Another habit that needs to be addressed is the misconception of multitasking. We are under this misconception we all can do it. And we can’t. You might think, I can listen to this lecture while my sister texts me. That is not supported by science or studies. It is literally derailing you. Your brain jumps off to another track and has to get back on. If you think you have not left that first track, you are wrong.

BU Today: So what next steps would you like to see?

Renstrom: I would like to see both schools and families be more assertive about this. But also to work together. If the parents are anti-smartphone policy, it doesn’t matter if the school is pro-policy. If there is a war between parents and schools, I am not sure much will happen. Some kind of intervention and restriction is better than just ripping it away from kids. The UNESCO study found it is actually even worse for university students. We are all coming at this problem from all different ways. Pouches or banned phones. Or nothing.

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Doug Most is a lifelong journalist and author whose career has spanned newspapers and magazines up and down the East Coast, with stops in Washington, D.C., South Carolina, New Jersey, and Boston. He was named Journalist of the Year while at The Record in Bergen County, N.J., for his coverage of a tragic story about two teens charged with killing their newborn. After a stint at Boston Magazine , he worked for more than a decade at the Boston Globe in various roles, including magazine editor and deputy managing editor/special projects. His 2014 nonfiction book, The Race Underground , tells the story of the birth of subways in America and was made into a PBS/American Experience documentary. He has a BA in political communication from George Washington University. Profile

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There are 27 comments on Why Schools Should Ban Cell Phones in the Classroom—and Why Parents Have to Help

i found this very helpful with my research

It was ok, but i will say i enjoyed learning more about why we should not have cell phones.

It was a great research, helped me a lot.

I think that this was helpful, but there is an ongoing question at my school, which is, though phones may be negative to health and knowledge and they’re a distraction what happens if there was a shooting or a fire or a dangourus weather event and you don’t have a phone to tell your parents or guardians at home if you are alright? (Reply answer if have one)

Yeah they would get an amber alert

well, the school has the technology that can help communicate that to the parents, and if that were to happen, I guess that’s why there’s always a cell phone in the classrooms those old-time ones, but I feel it would not be okay in case of a shooting since you have to go silence, and on the moment of fire or weather everything happens so fast in the moment.

Yeah, that’s exactly why they have those supplies or items in the classroom, to alert parents. Kids don’t need to use their phones for that.

In schools all teachers have cell phones. So one way or the other the messages would get out to the parents as needed. If a student gets on the cell phone to inform the parent about the activity, that’s taken place it could cause panic. School staffs are informed as to how to handle such situations.. what I have seen take place in classes are students who are texting each other either in the same room or in another classroom during the school time. Many students spend time on YouTube and not concentrating what’s going on in the classroom.

Teachers have communication with all parents and it also has amber alerts

You just give the kids watches to call there parents or guardians on.

I think that this was helpful, but there is an ongoing question at my school, which is, though phones may be negative to health and knowledge and they’re a distraction what happens if there is a shooting or a fire or a dangerous weather event and you don’t have a phone to tell your parents or guardians at home if you are alright?

I am writing a paper and this is very helpful thank you.

I am writing a paper and this is very helpful but it is true what if our mom or dad have to contact us we need phones!

this helped me with my school project about whether cell phones should be banned in school. I think yes but the class is saying no. I think it’s because I was raised without a phone so I know how to survive and contact my parents without a phone. but anyway, this helped me with my essay! thank you!

I don’t think phones should be allowed in school, and this is perfect backup! Thank you Doug

great infromation for debate

Thanks, this helped a lot I’m working on an essay and this has been really helpful.by the way, some people may think, but what if i need to call my mom/dad/guardian. but the real thing is, there is a high chance that there will be a telephone near you. or if it’s something that only you want them to know,go ahead and ask your teacher if you can go to the office.

I mean it could also depend on the student, like for example let’s say that i’m a student inside the school, if I used my phone and I got off it, for me it would instant focus, but for others students they might take longer or the same time as me, it all really depends if the student is tend to be responsible with their time trying to focus so I would say that this claim is not true.

I think that is article was very good. I’m currently writing and essay and I have used this for most of my evidence so far. I personally think that cellphones should be banned from the classroom because the school will get the information that your parents need out to them so you don’t have to cause a panic because you don’t know if your parents know what is going on at your school or not. It will just be better because then we wouldn’t have as many distractions in the classrooms as we do now because kids are always getting caught on their phones and they are constantly being sent down to the office and it takes time to get the class back on track. I personally agree with Doug that cellphones should be banned in the classrooms.

It’s striking to realize that the reason some parents feel the need to advocate for phone usage in school is due to concerns about a potential school shooting. While parents may be more informed about the harmful effects of smartphones in a learning environment, they take preference for the safety of their child in a hypothetical situation. It’s a hard debate because while the safety of their children is important, the drastic effects of students needing 20 minutes to refocus is significantly impacting their ability to learn in their classes. I find it very saddening that this is what our world has come to – prioritizing safety for a school shooting over academic performance, because it is no longer so unusual for a school to experience that type of tragedy.

I liked the comment, “Addiction to phones is kind of like second-hand smoking. If you’re young and people around you are using it, you are going to want it too,” because I experienced this phenomenon in my early middle school years, with the invention of the first iPhone. All of a sudden an invention that was broadcasted on the news became an essential for the other students in my middle school class, to the point where I became one of the only students without one. Then, I finally succumbed to the pressure, and begged my parents for an iPhone as I felt extremely left out. It’s frustrating to accept that this pressure is affecting children now younger and younger by the year, with even six year old children I babysit owning their own iPhone/iPad.

I also think that with the prevalence of child phone usage significantly increases parental anxiety, particularly for those parents who are already overbearing to start. Giving parents the ability to contact their child at any given time is harmful, and it can create a dependence on either side. It’s ironic given the fact that parents push their children to focus and succeed in their classes, yet harass them all day about minuscule things that could’ve been addressed later that day. So yes, parents need to stop calling their kids during the day.

this helped me with my school project, very reliable source.

I think that this talked more about why parents should help more than why cell phones should be banned.

I think the teachers or guardians will allow you to contact someone but I think after the shooting or crisis they will contact your parents or guardian from the office or person in charge

I agree, I’m 13 and I honestly could live without a phone

i also agree but parents need to reach their kids somehow if something happens in school

I’m also 13

had to research this for an assingnment and onistlly, I love my phone and I would marry it if I could!

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Home — Essay Samples — Information Science and Technology — Cell Phones — Reasons Why Cell Phones Should not be Allowed in School

Reasons Why Cell Phones Should not Be Allowed in School

• Categories: Cell Phones Children and Technology Impact of Technology

About this sample

Words: 588 |

Updated: 7 December, 2023

Words: 588 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Video Version

Hook Examples for “Cell Phones Should Not Be Allowed in School” Essay

• An Educational Distraction: Step into the classroom and explore the pervasive presence of cell phones among students. Join me in examining how these devices, designed for connectivity, can often disconnect learners from the educational experience.
• Quoting an Educator: Educator John Dewey once said, “”Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.”” Let’s discuss how the intrusion of cell phones in schools can disrupt the vital process of learning and personal growth.
• The Social Side Effects: Delve into the social consequences of unrestricted cell phone use in schools, from cyberbullying to the erosion of face-to-face communication. Together, we’ll explore the impact on student well-being.
• Academic Integrity at Stake: Explore the challenges posed by cell phones in terms of cheating and academic dishonesty. Join me in discussing the importance of maintaining academic integrity in educational institutions.
• Fostering a Distraction-Free Environment: Consider the benefits of creating a focused, distraction-free learning environment by restricting cell phone usage. Let’s explore how this policy can enhance the quality of education.

Works Cited

• Ferrell, Finessa. “Ask an expert”: Should students have cell phones at school? Chalkbeat.org; published January 24, 2012, found February 2, 2019.
• Nohar, Vanika. Should cell phones be allowed in school? ; Stabreaknews.com; published July 12, 2012. Found February 4, 2019.
• Freed, Richard. Why phones don’t belong in school; M.huffpost.com; published April 13, 2013; found February 4, 2019.
• Vitelli, Amie. 10 reasons why cell phones shouldn’t be allowed in school; Middleboroughtv.com; published December 5, 2018; found February 5, 2019.
• Martinko, Katherine. Why kids shouldn’t take their phones to school; Treehugger.com; published September 6, 2016; found February 5, 2019.

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Students Should Not Be Allowed to Bring Mobile Phones to School

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Cellphone Headaches in Middle Schools: Why Policies Aren’t Enough

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Middle school has always been a difficult time for kids. But when you tack on their near-constant use of cellphones, this stage of development can become very problematic.

Research shows that early adolescents are particularly susceptible to the seductive risks tied to cellphone use: Think cyberbullying, catfishing (creating a fake identity online to mislead someone), and straight-up addiction. Putting in place strong cellphone-usage policies at school can help curb these associated problems.

Although the majority of K-12 schools (77 percent at last count) have policies that prohibit nonacademic use of cellphones during school hours, according to the National Center for Education Statistics , some teachers, including middle school educators, embrace the use of cellphones for in-class assignments —from making podcasts to taking nature photos for digital journals in science class.

But cellphone policies should be just one piece of a much broader and thoughtful digital educational strategy, experts emphasize.

“Most schools have done very little to address the digital citizenship piece of the technology end, and it’s often very random and hodgepodge—not just from district to district but from building to building,” said Liz Kolb, a clinical professor of learning technologies and teacher education at the University of Michigan. “There’s nobody in the school who’s actually in charge of this curriculum, which makes it difficult to figure out who’s going to teach it.”

It’s a problem worth remedying, say experts, who explain why middle school students are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of social media and how schools can help.

‘In middle school, peers are more important than parents’

During adolescence, students naturally begin to pull apart from their parents and seek approval from their peers. Some psychologists describe it as a process whereby adolescents engage in behaviors and attitudes that they feel help them establish independence from their parents but can oftentimes be very impulsive.

Cindy Bourget, a school counselor who works at Elm Mound Middle School in Wisconsin, sees it all the time. “In middle school, peers are more important than parents,” she said.

Of course, that’s nothing new. What is relatively new is the ubiquity of social media, which allows adolescents to connect with peers—and other sources of information, not always reliable or well-meaning—in a near continuous manner.

Research shows that middle school students are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of social media on their well-being. In a sweeping 2022 study that examined survey results from more than 17,400 teenagers and young adults on how social media use affected their life satisfaction, respondents indicated that social media use during puberty has a particularly negative effect.

Bourget said she hears a lot of feedback related to social media from middle school students, particularly girls, indicating that they’re having trouble navigating the online world. “The conversation surrounding healthy relationships has shifted so dramatically, from ‘how do you engage in a conversation with a boy’ to ‘how do you know if this person is trying to traffic you?’” she said.

Social media has also exacerbated the threat of more common adolescent challenges, like schoolyard bullying. “Before social media, when you went home from school, you could shut it off, talk to adults in the room. Social media has made it so there is very little room for the other voices to penetrate,” Bourget said. The “other voices” Bourget references are those belonging to teachers, parents, and other trusted adults—those who insert reason into what, for many adolescents, has become an otherwise 24-hour reel of input via social media dominated by content driven by peers, advertisers, and even predators.

But unhealthy online communication doesn’t just come from predatory strangers or bullying peers. When middle school kids are allowed to use cellphones at school, the devices provide parents unfettered online access to their adolescent children during the school day, which experts say can be unhealthy, too.

“School is the place where kids get to be independent for the first time,” said Michael Rich, a pediatrician and the director of the Digital Wellness Lab , a nonprofit research center at Boston Children’s Hospital. “They’re building their own society. If you have mom or dad in your head all day long, [adolescents] never get to learn or practice taking care of themselves or being themselves in that environment.”

‘It becomes too much of a distraction’

Rich’s position on cellphones in middle schools is clear: “I think phones should not be in schools,” he said, intentionally avoiding the word “ban.”

“I think we should approach this not as a ban, but as an opportunity,” said Rich. A ban, he explains, can feel threatening to parents—many of whom have expressed the strong desire to be able to contact their child during the school day via cellphone as their (parental) right and a safety issue.

“The minute you talk about this as a ban, parents resist,” said Rich. Instead, he suggests reinforcing to parents the notion of a cellphone-free middle school as one that allows adolescents to gain independence, as they learn how to take care of themselves and behave in a way that reflects the people they are—or at least those they aspire to be. “I think smartphones interrupt that in really profound ways,” Rich said.

Bourget agrees with Rich that middle school students should not have access to cellphones during the school day. “Their brains are not developed to handle it,” she said. “It becomes too much of a distraction.”

‘They don’t know that all these [online] things ... are designed to be addictive’

Middle school students may not have the impulse control to avoid using their cellphones at school, but they can be taught to understand how social media feeds their brain’s desire to engage in the online world, Kolb said. “They don’t know that all these [online] things they’re using are designed to be addictive.”

She suggests that conversations with students focus less on how much time they spend on their phones and more on how this time on social media makes them feel. “This allows students to take ownership, to recognize that it’s OK that I’m using my device but that I need to be smart about it so that my body and brain can be recharged.”

Bourget believes in downplaying the what of “policing” cellphone use and focusing instead on the why . “They’re at an age when boundaries are something they’re going to push against,” she said. At her school, Bourget tries to focus conversations about social media in ways that resonate with her audience. For example, she’s quick to point out to 7th grade boys—many of whom are enamored with professional athletes—how the misuse of social media can dash the hopes of such stardom. It’s a lesson they’re more likely to remember than simply that “cellphones shouldn’t be used in school,” she said.

Ideally, the University of Michigan’s Kolb said, such conversations are couched within a comprehensive K-12 curriculum that addresses a range of health issues. “It’s not a one-time conversation,” she said.

That may seem like a big commitment for schools. But, Kolb explains, the negative effects of social media can quickly become bigger problems when there’s no existing education or curriculum to fall back on, leaving teachers to manage problems episodically.

“Drama, friendship issues, cheating, bullying and the feelings of depression, stress, or anxiety that comes from it,” she said, “it all trickles into school, and then schools have to address the symptoms.”

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How a middle school is successfully keeping students off their phones during class

Amna Nawaz Amna Nawaz

Courtney Norris Courtney Norris

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• Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-a-middle-school-is-successfully-keeping-students-off-their-phones-during-class

As schools grapple with how to keep students off their cell phones, one Connecticut school took a blunt approach. In Manchester, Illing Middle School requires students to lock phones in a pouch until the end of the day. It comes as lawmakers in at least half a dozen states are pushing their schools to curb phone use. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Illing assistant principal Raymond Dolphin.

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Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors.

Amna Nawaz:

As schools nationwide grapple with how to keep students off their cell phones, one Connecticut school took a blunt approach.

In Manchester, Illing Middle School banned all cell phone use, requiring students to lock phones in a pouch until the end of the school day. The backlash from students and some parents was swift. Illing even offered to have administrators unlock a student's phone if needed.

But, within weeks, school staff said that wasn't even necessary. This comes as lawmakers in at least a half-a-dozen states are pushing their schools to curb cell phone use.

Illing Middle School's assistant principal, Raymond Dolphin, joins me now.

Welcome, and thanks for joining us.

So tell us a little bit about what the problem was that you were trying to fix in the first place. Why the ban?

Raymond Dolphin, Assistant Principal, Illing Middle School:

The number one problem was that the cell phones were interfering with the student — the learning of our students in the classrooms.

As we administrators were visiting classrooms, as well as listening to other teachers, we would regularly hear or witness ourselves, when the teacher was providing instruction, students were being distracted on their cell phones.

So you spearheaded this move. And we should note this wasn't about limiting use during the school day or giving teachers the power to take phones away if there are problems. You basically said no phones all day, that's it, lock it away.

Why that approach?

Raymond Dolphin:

We, as an administrative team, led by our principal, Ms. Idelisa Torres, what we found is that, for even adults, it's really difficult for them to manage their cell phone use.

And, for students, it's even that much more challenging, just, as age-appropriate, for them to struggle even more so. To just tell them it's effective to use your phone at this time and not that time, students weren't able to handle that. Any time their phone would vibrate or an alert would come off or just throughout the day because they were curious about a friend's response, they would be — they would find themselves looking on their cell phone.

What kind of reaction did you get from students and from parents?

So, initially, of course, our students, they had major resistance. They thought it was — they were a lot — a lot of them were very, very fearful.

What does it seem — what does it look like for me not to have access to my phone, when this device is something that, for some students, they would sleep with? And so it was a lot of fear there, a lot of frustration. But they soon adapted to it and responded very well.

For the majority of our parents, we have a philosophy out here in Manchester Public School where we don't just do things to our community, we do them with them. And so we have already sent out surveys and asked a lot of parents if they were on board and also thought that there was something that we needed to do. And they signed up on it as well overwhelmingly.

And so that just left a small minority of parents that we had to kind of coach through the process of resistance.

There is an expectation, as I'm sure you have seen in your school community too, among some parents that they want to be able to reach their kids during the school day. They want their kids to be able to reach them in an emergency or for support or a similar situation.

Did you see any of that? And how do you respond to those concerns?

Those concerns are legitimate, but we already have solutions already built in.

Every single classroom that we have in this building has at least one phone in it, and most of them have two phones. So, if something comes up where a student actually needs to reach their parent, they can just simply ask for permission, and they have the opportunity to call their parent.

If the parent wants to reach their student, they can call the main office and we can get messages to them. So you have access to your students. And the only change is that that immediate, like this-second reaction to send a text or send multiple texts is no longer there.

So, families do have to be a little bit more planned, but that opportunity still exists.

Can I ask, just out of curiosity, the phones in the classrooms, those are probably landlines. Is this the first time some of your kids have had to use a landline?

Yes. It's funny that you brought that up, because we adults were remarking about that at the beginning of the process, just at how many students were asking us, how do I use this phone?

And so we were floored at that.

But there was a lot of students who had that question, yes.

As you know, when you take a look at the broader picture, the statistics are clear. The National Center for Education Statistics found, in 2020, there were already cell phone bans in place in 76 percent of U.S. schools, but then another survey found some 97 percent of students who have cell phones are still using them during the school day for about 45 minutes or so.

So what is your advice for schools who want to try to enforce bans, take cell phones out of the classrooms, but don't know how to do that?

So that statistic doesn't surprise me. That discrepancy exists. We even had something similar. My advice to everyone is to not treat the Yondr pouches as the magic solution. It's one tool that is a major part of your overall strategy to solve this problem.

You need to elicit support from parents. You need to ensure that, like your school community, your teacher support staff and administration are all on the same page, and consistency, consistency, consistency is the most important thing.

All right, that is Illing Middle School's assistant principal, Raymond Dolphin, from Manchester, Connecticut, joining us today.

Assistant Principal Dolphin, thank you. Appreciate your time.

Thank you very much.

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Persuasive Essay: Should Cell Phones Be Allowed in Schools

Banning cell phones in school? Allowing students to use their cellphones in the classroom is 

a controversial topic. But students have already found ways of using cell phones in school for academic purposes. After all, allowing cell phone usage can help students during the day by learning in a way they are comfortable, keeping in contact with their parents, and devices provide easy access to information. I do not agree with the cell phone ban!

First of all, allowing cell phone usage lets students learn in a way where they're comfortable.  

Cell phones are like a tool to students these days, it helps them in many ways and it makes them feel comfortable and learn better.  According to the text, “Smartphones are young-person intuitive.  More and more students know how to use them, and they are becoming the most used "tool" by teens "(The SHARE team, resilient educator). In addition, allowing students to use their cell phones keeps them in contact with their parents. And know there are phones in schools but parents feel safe to know that their children can reach them at any moment. Based on the text, "Contacting parents mediated by school sometimes takes time so one of the best options is if the student can contact them directly.  This is especially useful during medical emergencies.  There are also times where the parents need to get ahold of their child for some important reason or just to check up on them on why they are running late "(Todd VanDuzer, student-tutor). 

In fact, letting students use their phones in schools also lets them access information easier.  

Some students may find it hard to keep on top of all their assignmens and by giving them access to information on the internet they can learn more about the topic and help them be on top of their work.  As said in the text, "If smartphones are allowed in school, students will have easy access to more information and therefore will be more participative during the class discussion" (Todd VanDuzer, student-tutor).  Being able to search up facts in just a few clicks is one of the biggest advantages of using technology.

On the other hand, Cell phones in the classroom promote cheating.  There are many websites, online forums, and tutors available online.  Most of the websites require subscriptions.  These resources, allow students to ask a question about their homework and they will be provided the answer.  If a student is allowed to bring their cell phone, he will have access to submit his question and receive the answer.  As said in the text "As said before, kids are getting distracted and not paying attention, so when it comes to taking a test they have no idea what the answers are so many students will cheat and not even learn anything" (Amie Vitello, Middle Borough TV).

In conclusion, cell phones should not be banned from schools because they are used for academic purposes. They provide quick access to knowledge, and they are learning in a method that is comfortable for them, and they can maintain in touch with their parents. In the end mobile devices have their benefits. So, should we ban them?

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For schools, accepting student mobile phone use may be a better approach than banning them

Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Child Development, Staffordshire University

Senior Lecturer in Qualitative Psychological Research Methods, Staffordshire University

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Sarah Rose is affiliated with Staffordshire University and a member of the British Psychological Society

Jennifer Taylor is affiliated with Staffordshire University and is a member of the British Psychological Society.

Staffordshire University provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK.

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Most children in the UK own their own phone by the age of 11 . In China children get their first phone at an even younger age, with 88% of first to third-grade pupils (aged six to nine) reported to have their own smartphone.

If children have their own phone, they may well take it to school with them – perhaps encouraged to do so by their parents for safety reasons . For schools, though, mobile phones can be seen as a source of distraction. In France , mobile phone use is banned during school hours. However, research with teachers in China has found that banning phones at school is difficult to enforce.

Another approach could be the adoption of school policies – rules or guidelines – that accept the inevitability of phones in schools. Our recent research suggests that pupils, even in primary schools, may have the maturity to contribute to the development of appropriate policies.

Some research has found that banning mobile phone use can enhance students’ academic performance, especially for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds . But this has not been consistently found in other research studies .

One reason for the inconsistency in research findings is that studies have focused on different age groups and little consideration has been given to children’s maturity and academic motivation. This is important, as older children might be able to use their phones more appropriately.

For example, 18-year olds have been observed to only use their phones during the “in-between” spaces in the classroom, such as at the beginning and end of a class or when waiting for instruction. Furthermore, this phone use tended to be a solitary activity and therefore did not distract from learning. But it seems unlikely that younger teenagers or children would behave in the same way.

Benefits of mobile devices

On the other hand, rather than considering mobile phones a distraction , they could be used to increase pupils’ engagement in learning. A Bring your Own Device initiative trialled in New Zealand secondary schools, in which pupils were encouraged to bring their smartphones and tablets to use in class, found that their digital skills were improved and that there were increased opportunities for collaboration between pupils and between pupils and teachers.

Instead of banning phones outright, schools could consider introducing mobile phone use policies which develop children’s digital skills and resilience by teaching them about the benefits as well as the risks of mobile phone use. In addition to reducing possible distractions to learning, these polices could be used to encourage appropriate mobile phone use. This might be particularly important for younger children who may be less able to regulate their use of phones appropriately .

Consulting with children

Taking the views of those most directly involved with the policy – teachers, pupils and parents – into consideration is important . Teachers must enforce the policy, children are the intended beneficiaries of the policy and the views of parents are likely to influence their child’s compliance with the policy.

In our research at Staffordshire University we carried out paired interviews with parents and their ten or 11 year-old children. First, they were asked for their views on the benefits and risks of mobile phone use at school. Secondly, a range of different school mobile phone polices were shared with them and they gave their views on these.

The findings suggest the children and their parents shared the view that phones were important for keeping in contact. They were also aware of the downsides of having phones at school, including bullying and risks of being able to access the internet. Neither parents nor children were supportive of policies involving total bans.

We found that the children contributed to the discussions in a very mature way, sometimes surprising their parents in how aware of the risks they were. Furthermore, in collaboration with their parents, they were able to come up with ideas for ideal policies and solutions to help enforce them. They demonstrated good awareness of appropriate and inappropriate use of mobile phones at school. One parent-child pair suggested a role of “telephone prefect” who would have a class mobile phone that children and parents could use to contact each other during the school day when necessary.

Involving children and parents in policy development has the potential to increase the effectiveness and enforceability of policies – and may even reduce children’s problematic phone use more broadly . Consulting with parents and pupils when developing school mobile phone policies is already recommended in Ireland .

School policies that ban mobile phones in schools may be missing an opportunity to involve children and educate them about responsible mobile phone use.

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Cell Phones in School: Should Be Banned, Restricted or Allowed?

Why cell phones in school should be banned.

The use of mobile phones in schools has attracted the attention of many individuals, state organizations, learning institutions, the media and the society at large. Different views have been raised on the positive impacts and the negative repercussion that come as a result of the use of mobile phones in schools. Although some positive aspects can be drawn from the use of mobile phones in schools, the negative impacts are saddening and the need to be looked at with great caution. Poor school performance of children and cheating in exams can be attributed to the use of mobile phones in schools.

School children with mobile phones tend to have a short span of attention in class due to various activities, as surfing the internet, playing games and texting. These children are also likely to cheat in exams by searching for answers through the internet or texting their colleagues for answers. Likewise, cases of mobile phone theft increase due to the urge of getting better phones to those who already have and the desire of having a phone to the poor children who cannot afford it. These should thus give an alarm to the school board to ban the use of mobile phones.

One of the major reasons why the use of mobile phones by school children should be banned is because it promotes cheating during exams. The mobile phones may provide good avenues for the children to cheat in exams and thus earn undeserved credits. Children use the taken pictures of class notes, videos, text messaging as well as wireless earbuds to gain access to materials that assist them during the exams. According to the National School Resource Officer Survey in 2004 by NASRO, it was estimated that more than 41 percent had reported handling cases of students using mobile phones improperly. The officers reported that among the improper ways school children had used mobile phones included cheating in exams, particularly through text messaging and the internet.

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Another reason why the school board should ban the use of mobile phones is due to the short span of attention by the children. Student’s concentration in class is distracted on various occasions in the presence of mobile phones. In certain instances, the disturbance can be carried on to the rest of the children in class if the phone rings out loud. This is more likely to happen and cause a lot of distraction, hampering the learning process if these phones are not put in silent mode. Moreover, if a phone is put in silent mode or on vibration, it distracts the owner leading to a short attention span in class. If a call or message, for instance, comes in, the student loses concentration and diverts their attention towards reading the message or answering the call. These lower the student’s understanding of things taught in class and in turn results in poor performance.

It is essential for the school board to note that the use of mobile phones by children promotes theft. The changing technology results in the production of more attractive and expensive mobile phones that not every child can afford. Theft complaints are thus not going to stop anytime soon if the use of mobile phones in schools will not be banned. Despite the fact that some of the children already own mobile phones, they will be tempted to steal the more sophisticated ones from their friends. The poor children who cannot afford a cell phone are no exemption and they are most likely to steal any type of phone for them to own one. It is best if schools ban their use to prevent such cases of theft.

It is thus justifiable to conclude that the school board has a big part to play in making the learning environment suitable for all the children. The ban on the use of mobile phones will be very beneficial to all and would lead to better performance. The children’s concentration span in class would improve, cheating in exams would be minimized and cases of mobile phone theft in schools would be forgotten. If the school board embraces the idea of making it illegal to use mobile phones, the society will benefit and the school children will all have a favorable environment to learn.

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Why Cell Phones in School Should Be Restricted?

People create different devices and machines due to the constant growth of human needs and demands. It is connected with the appropriate improvement in the quality of life. In fact, the creation of such a modern device as a cell phone refers to great wonders of the twenty-first century, even if its use at school is under great concern. Thus, the development of the cell phone and its regular use can improve the process of studying at school, but it can also destruct the way students thinking and learning.

The cell phone makes a revolution in education. It widens children’s outlook and suggests new ways and approaches for learning more information in different subjects through video use. It becomes evident that “allowing students to use cell phones in the classroom for specific, academic purposes has the power to increase student engagement and allow teachers to more effectively assess learning on a daily basis” (Giambalvo).

It means that the particular use of this device contributes to the development of creativity and interactive experience. Students can get free access to a large number of sources which can be essential in studying. In this case, juniors are motivated to set their goals and reach them observing different videos based on the learning topics. Additionally, this issue includes social and emotional aspects that show how an individual can assess himself/herself to reveal the appropriate persistence and diligence. Thus, modern teachers consider cell phones as a useful tool for learning, which makes studying easier and more interesting.

The cell phones provide new effective ways of learning for those who try to overcome the difficulties with the second language. In this case, it’s primary purpose is to improve the limits of students’ vocabulary. With the help of mobile dictionaries, students can memorize many new words including their translation and spelling. They also develop their vocabulary while writing a test after reading the assignment, which seems to be rather difficult (Lu 515). The point is that students do not have any limitation to learn more words every time they look up a new one and its various meanings. It is known that lexical information improves the intellect, and students’ speech becomes better. Therefore, the effectiveness of cell phone use is obvious, and it is necessary to further develop this approach.

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On the other hand, cell phones cause cheating and unceasing ringing that destroys classroom policies at school. Many teachers claim that “the technology is considered a serious source of distraction in the classroom” because it has a negative impact on academic performance (Campbell 280). In such a way, plagiarism becomes a common problem that exists among students. After finishing high schools, they are not ready to develop and create their own ideas. Students have boundless access to the Internet, thus they simply copy and paste the suggested information. It brings harm to the students’ studying as they do not make any considerable effort to develop their own intellectual skills and abilities in the process of learning. Additionally, teachers often complain that they cannot concentrate on the representation of new material due to the ringing in the class.

Moreover, parents notice that their children stop paying much attention to the school assignments but talk over the phone all the time. Perhaps, it is a precise result of parents’ numerous requests to allow their children to use mobile phones at school as they are against the past ban (Taylor). Thus, the cell phone becomes children’s obsession as they gradually begin to depend on this advanced technology.

In conclusion, the use of the cell phone improves the quality of studying as teachers can apply various teaching videos. Students can also learn the second foreign language via the cell phone by consulting the dictionary and memorizing new words as well as establishing communication and interacting with each other. However, the use of cell phones has several disadvantages while studying: the main one is cheating. This leads to reducing students’ own knowledge because they are out of practice. Therefore, it is necessary to restrict the use of cell phones at school in order to avoid plagiarism which is not good for students studying.

Why Cell Phones in School Should Be Allowed?

In terms of using cell phones in school, various improvements have been established at different schools, which benefited students since their privacy has been improved as well as an effective and essential means of communication was implemented. Schools are trying out various policies that allow having cell phones at schools with some permitting students to use their phones only during breaks or at lunchtime. Other schools are encouraging students to have cell phones at school in order to enhance the educational process, the main purpose of which is to improve understanding in the classroom.

This is helpful in various ways since it provides suitable platforms for enhancing educational understanding. Other policies that were implemented allow students to carry cell phones to school and use them after classes and at breaks. The phones should be kept in lockers or backpacks during classes. This is unlike the policy of some schools that allow phones and encourage students to carry them to school and use them in class for their educational advantage.

Cell phones use in high school during break times should, therefore, be allowed because of personal rights, privacy issues, and effective and essential communication. The use of cell phones during breaks prevents students from losing attention in class and allows them to maintain necessary communications with their parents as well as provides them with the advantages of e-learning tools. Allowing students to use cell phones at school gives students the right to personal life and privacy. In addition, cell phones enhance research and improve students’ understanding since they have more access to information that is available on the Internet.

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Home » Tips for Teachers » Why Cell Phones Should Be Allowed in Schools — 11 Reasons Based on 16 Research Studies

Why Cell Phones Should Be Allowed in Schools — 11 Reasons Based on 16 Research Studies

The dramatic rise in cell phone usage globally , including among younger, school-aged users , brings into focus the debate on why phones should be allowed in school.

Cell phones are a forbidden item in most classrooms. Many schools have policies against students taking their gadgets out of their backpacks during the day or even bringing them to school at all.

However, I think that cell phones can play a very beneficial role in a classroom, especially when used effectively. I’ve stretched the ‘rules’ in the past and let my students pull out their phones for various classroom lessons and activities, and I’m definitely glad I did!

Some also believe that allowing students to use phones in school teaches them responsible usage for later in life:

If we don’t let kids use cell phones in the classroom, how will they ever learn to use them responsibly in a workplace? Every adult I know uses their phone all day every day. Let’s prepare kids for the real world. — Matthew B. Courtney, Ed.D. (@mbcourtneyedd) August 7, 2022

In addition to keeping my students more engaged in learning, using the gadgets offered a whole host of other benefits, many of which I didn’t even think of until I saw them! I’d love to share my answers to the question “why should students be allowed to use cell phones in class” with you.

In this article, I’ll share:

Cell Phones in School — Teachers’ Thoughts

• Why Should Phones be Allowed in School

7 Ideas How Cell Phones Can Be Used Effectively in the Classroom

Digital etiquette for students in the classroom.

You can watch this video below. It contains a brief retelling of the article.

Many teachers and parents are on the fence about whether to let students have cell phones in school . More and more teachers are beginning to see the potential learning benefits mobile phones can offer to their students and are advocating for gadget use in the classroom. In this video, Sam from New EdTech Classroom Why we should allow students to use cell phones in schools.

Below are what some teachers have shared about using mobile phones in the classroom:

”We need to embrace these changes and instead of trying to separate that reality from an outdated vision of a classroom, we need to find a way to optimize the educational experience for the connected kids of the future. We can’t disconnect them from the world between the hours of 8am – 3pm everyday. Don’t be scared. You have to leave your comfort zone and take a risk. The same thing you ask your students to do. Take a risk and see what the future may look like and then change your teaching to ensure that the technology is used as a tool and not just a distraction.” —Tim Floyd, Education Awesomeness

“I’ve also seen the value that cell phones can bring to education. Students who might not have access to computers at home can type and submit essays on their phones. Students can quickly look up some information and verify its validity. Furthermore, students can also use their cell phones to collaborate with their peers.” —Christina, The Darling English Teacher

“When students have access to technology and social media, they have access to empowerment and leadership online. As educators, we need to empower our students to use technology for good. When students are given the chance to use their cellphones in class as a learning tool, we can teach them how to positively influence and impact other people online.” —Amanda, EDTech Endeavors

“When students have access to technology and social media, they have access to empowerment and leadership online. As educators, we need to empower our students to use technology for good. When students are given the chance to use their cellphones in class as a learning tool, we can teach them how to positively influence and impact other people online.” — A.J. Juliani , the Director of Technology & Innovation for Centennial School District

Why Should Phones be Allowed in School — 11 Reasons

There is a lot of debate about whether phones should be allowed in schools. While there are some cons to letting your students use cell phones in class, I feel that the benefits of using gadgets can outweigh these cons. As long as you have solid classroom management and set clear expectations for students using their mobile phones, I think you’ll find that there are many benefits  to letting your students use them.

Setting up a phone charging station, just as you may set up a tablet or Chromebook charging station in your classroom, can ensure your students’ gadgets are charged and ready when needed during instruction.

Many people wonder, “why should students be allowed to use cell phones in class?” In my opinion, some of the biggest benefits of allowing students to use their phones in school include:

1. Providing an Additional Tool for Learning

In today’s digital age, the ubiquity of mobile phones, especially among younger individuals, is undeniable. Most children receive their first phone around the age of 11-12 , making these devices a prevalent part of their daily lives even before they hit their teenage years. The integration of these phones in the classroom, thus, presents a unique opportunity for enhancing the learning experience.

When students have the freedom to use their mobile phones during lessons, they instantly gain a portal to a world of technology right at their fingertips. This is invaluable, particularly in educational settings where there might be a shortage of tablets or computers. Instead of waiting for their turn on limited school devices, students can directly tap into the vast reservoir of information available online via their phones. Here are some of the benefits:

• Powerful Research Tools: Mobile phones can be transformative tools for research. If a student encounters a concept they’re unfamiliar with or if a topic sparks their curiosity, they can swiftly dive into a deeper exploration online.
• Interactive Learning: Educators can capitalize on interactive elements by using phones for classroom polls, ensuring active engagement and participation from all students. It becomes an immediate feedback mechanism, gauging understanding and promoting discussions.
• Note-Taking and Collaboration: With the myriad of note-taking and word-processing apps available, students can seamlessly jot down their thoughts, answers, or even craft detailed essays. This not only promotes paperless classrooms but also allows for easy sharing and collaboration among peers.

In essence, by harnessing the potential of mobile phones, educators can cultivate dynamic, interactive, and resource-rich environments that cater to the needs of the modern student.

In the context of safety and the unpredictable nature of emergencies, the presence of cell phones with students becomes of paramount importance. Particularly, in the gravest and unfortunately increasingly prevalent scenarios like school shootings , a mobile phone can serve as a lifeline. During such incidents, when every second is crucial, students can use their phones to alert authorities, inform their parents about their safety, or even receive vital instructions from law enforcement.

Phones are already banned. The parents are worried about these bans because of the very high chance there is a school shooting and their child is unable to call for help. https://t.co/TxpJfrUgJn — Anosognosiogenesis (@pookleblinky) June 6, 2023

Schools, as places of learning, also bear the responsibility of ensuring the well-being of their students. Cell phones can be crucial in the subsequent scenarios:

• Unpredictable Events: In the unfortunate event of an unforeseen incident or crisis at school, having immediate access to a cell phone can make a significant difference. One of the primary advantages is the ability to swiftly contact parents or guardians. Whether it’s to inform them about an unexpected situation or to seek urgent assistance, being able to communicate directly can offer both the student and parent a measure of relief in stressful situations.
• Commuting Students: For students who commute alone or those who remain on school premises for extracurricular activities, a mobile phone serves as an essential tool to stay connected.
• Medical Emergencies: In situations where there might be a need for medical attention or other emergency services, the quick dialing capability of a phone can be life-saving. Without it, students may find themselves isolated and without the immediate resources to seek help.

While detractors may argue against the distractions phones might pose academically, the security and peace of mind they offer, especially in dire situations, make a compelling case for their presence in the school environment.

3. Improved Communication

In our rapidly evolving digital age, the line of communication between students and their educators is becoming increasingly streamlined thanks to the ubiquitous use of cell phones. Apart from maintaining connections with family and friends, students are harnessing the power of these devices to facilitate a more direct and immediate line of dialogue with their teachers. This virtual bridge enables students to:

• Promptly relay their feedback to the teachers
• Pose queries for immediate resolution
• Engage in constructive discussions, irrespective of the confines of school hours

Even when teachers find themselves swamped during the day, mobile communication ensures that students aren’t left hanging. Queries sent after school hours can be addressed at the teacher’s earliest convenience, eliminating the conventional wait time that could span till the next school day. The immediacy of this system enhances the overall learning experience.

Interestingly, a study from the School of Business highlighted another crucial dimension to this trend. Beyond the teacher-student dynamic, students are proactively forming educational bonds with their peers through their phones. They often initiate and manage class-based groups on various social platforms, allowing for an organized exchange of study materials and collaborative learning, devoid of any official oversight. Such initiatives underscore the instrumental role cell phones play in modern education, fostering a holistic and communal approach to learning.

4. Organization

In today’s digitally-driven world, cell phones have evolved beyond mere communication devices. They now function as personal assistants, packed with tools designed to enhance productivity and organization. For students, these devices can play a pivotal role in shaping their academic journey, thanks to an array of built-in features such as calendar apps, clocks, alarms, and reminders.

Here are the key features that can be beneficial for students:

• Calendar App: It can be an invaluable tool for students to plot out their academic calendar, inputting assignment due dates, exam schedules, and even extracurricular commitments. With reminders set up, students receive timely prompts, ensuring that no task is forgotten or left to the last minute.
• Alarms: They can be utilized not just to wake up for school but also to ensure punctuality for classes or study group meetings.
• Clock: This feature can assist in time management, allowing students to allocate specific blocks of time for focused study, breaks, or recreational activities.

By planning and visualizing their day or week, students can achieve a balance between academic and personal commitments. This underlines why phones should be allowed in school, as cell phones, often perceived as distractions, can actually be powerful organizational tools. When used wisely, they can significantly enhance a student’s ability to manage time, keep up with responsibilities, and maintain a balanced academic life.

5. Can Save Schools Money

The digital revolution has fundamentally transformed the education sector, offering avenues for cost-saving and enhanced accessibility.

Here’s how schools can leverage cell phones for economical and sustainable education:

• E-books and Online Materials: A significant advantage is the rise of e-books and online course materials. By allowing students to access these digital resources via their cell phones, schools stand to benefit economically and environmentally. When students use their phones to tap into a plethora of e-books and other online resources, it significantly reduces the need for schools to invest in physical textbooks, which can be expensive to purchase, update, and maintain. This shift to digital not only alleviates financial pressures but also ensures that students have the most up-to-date information right at their fingertips.
• Digital Document Sharing: Moreover, the digital sharing of documents by teachers further complements this eco-friendly and economical approach. Instead of relying on traditional methods of printing and copying, which come with associated costs and environmental concerns, educators can instantly distribute study materials, assignments, and other critical documents. This streamlined method reduces paper waste, aids in quicker dissemination of information, and fosters a more efficient classroom environment.

In conclusion, embracing the capabilities of cell phones in the academic realm presents a win-win scenario. It offers students the convenience and immediacy of digital access while allowing educational institutions to optimize resources, reduce costs, and promote sustainability.

6. Good for the Environment

The push towards a more sustainable and environmentally conscious approach in education is becoming increasingly important, and digital transformation plays a pivotal role in this shift. By reducing the reliance on print resources and leveraging digital platforms, educational institutions are not only achieving significant financial savings but also contributing positively to environmental conservation.

Using gadgets in classrooms leads to:

• Saving Paper: It’s worth noting that a typical school consumes approximately 75 trees per year , further exacerbating the issues of deforestation. Every sheet of paper spared from printing translates to saved trees, which play an indispensable role in absorbing carbon dioxide, regulating global temperatures, and fostering biodiversity. By reducing the demand for paper, schools indirectly promote forest conservation and reduce their carbon footprint.
• Reducing Ink and Energy Consumption: The cascading benefits extend beyond just paper conservation. Lesser printing implies reduced consumption of ink, which in turn means fewer plastic cartridges that often end up in landfills. The energy used by printers and copiers, though seemingly minor on a day-to-day basis, accumulates over time, leading to substantial power consumption. By cutting down on these activities, institutions also reduce their energy footprint and the associated greenhouse gas emissions.

In essence, embracing digital alternatives in education is not merely a cost-saving strategy; it’s a declaration of commitment to the planet. Schools and educators, by opting for this approach, are not only preparing students for a digital future but also instilling in them the values of sustainability and responsible consumption.

7. Prepares Students for the Future

As educators, our primary responsibility extends beyond just imparting knowledge; it involves equipping students with skills and tools that will remain relevant in their future endeavors.

Undeniably, in the rapidly evolving landscape of the 21st century, technology stands as a colossal pillar shaping numerous sectors. In such a milieu, it becomes imperative for students to not only be familiar with but also proficient in utilizing technological tools, including mobile phones. Here’s what students can acquire that will be advantageous for their future:

• Using Phones as Research Tools: Mobile phones, often perceived merely as communication tools, have metamorphosed into multifunctional devices capable of tasks ranging from basic research to complex problem-solving. By incorporating them into the classroom environment, we offer students a hands-on approach to understand and harness the vast potential these devices possess.
• Enhancing Education through App-Based Learning: Moreover, phones serve as a practical tool to teach students how to study using technology, introducing them to a plethora of educational apps and online resources that can enhance their learning experiences.
• Preparing for a Future Profession: Furthermore, as many future careers will demand technological adeptness, proficiency in using smartphones and other tech tools can be a significant advantage for students entering the workforce. They will inevitably encounter scenarios where quick thinking, complemented by technological skills, will be invaluable.

In conclusion, embracing mobile phones in educational settings is more than just keeping pace with the times; it’s a forward-looking strategy. By doing so, we not only enhance the current learning experience but also lay a robust foundation for our students, ensuring they are well-prepared and competitive in their future careers.

8. Can Create Digitally Responsible Citizens

In an age dominated by digital communication, it’s crucial to instill not only tech proficiency but also digital etiquette among students. Schools, as primary centers of learning and social interaction, have an essential role in shaping this aspect of students’ digital journey. By permitting gadget use within school premises, we lay the groundwork for creating digitally responsible citizens.

Understanding the nuances of when and where to use a phone is paramount . Here’s how educational institutions can guide students towards responsible digital citizenship:

• Learning Digital Etiquette: In a professional setting or during crucial personal interactions, the inappropriate use of a mobile device can be perceived as disrespectful or inattentive. For instance, looking up and maintaining eye contact when someone addresses you demonstrates respect and active engagement, an essential soft skill in both professional and personal realms.
• Providing Environment for Practice: The school environment offers a controlled and supervised platform where students can practice these etiquettes. They can learn to strike a balance between staying digitally connected and being physically present, discerning when to put away their devices and engage with their surroundings.

Without these lessons, students may inadvertently cultivate habits that may hinder their interpersonal relationships in the future. Thus, integrating digital etiquette into the curriculum doesn’t just foster tech-savvy individuals; it molds well-rounded, respectful citizens adept at navigating the digital and real-world landscapes.

9. Can Help Students When Studying

In today’s digital age, the traditional means of note-taking have undergone a transformative evolution, with smartphones emerging as invaluable tools in this process. The built-in camera on mobile phones offers students an efficient and immediate way to capture essential educational content, augmenting their learning experience. Here’s how this can be helpful:

• Capturing Visuals Efficiently: During lectures or instructional sessions, there are often intricate diagrams, charts, or images that may be time-consuming or challenging to replicate by hand in notebooks. Here, the mobile camera serves as a boon. With a quick snap, students can capture these visuals in high resolution, ensuring they don’t miss out on any crucial details. This method not only saves time but also guarantees the accuracy of the information they’re recording.

“In my classes, I let students take pictures of the digital whiteboard, too. If an assignment description or important PowerPoint slide has been up long enough and I am ready to move on, before doing so, I invite kids to snap a picture. This allows them to refer back to the slide at home if necessary.” — Chad Donohue , National Education Association

• Reviewing and Studying: When it’s time to review the material, be it for a quiz, exam, or class discussion, these photographic notes can be invaluable. Students can easily revisit these images, zooming in on specific details or annotating them with additional insights. This visual approach to studying aids in better retention of information and can make abstract or complex concepts more tangible and understandable.

In essence, the integration of mobile cameras into the educational process amplifies the efficiency of learning. By merging traditional note-taking with digital resources, students are equipped with a richer, more comprehensive set of study materials, paving the way for enhanced academic performance.

10. Accessibility and Personalized Learning

The rise of technology in the educational sector has ushered in a new era marked by accessibility and personalized learning, with cell phones being central to this revolution. The push to incorporate mobile phones in the classroom stems from the profound potential they hold in creating more inclusive and tailored educational experiences, for example:

• Equal Opportunities: Accessibility is about ensuring that every student, regardless of their background, abilities, or challenges, has equal access to learning resources. Cell phones bridge this gap efficiently. For students with learning differences or physical disabilities, smartphones equipped with assistive technologies can be life-changing. Features like screen readers, voice-to-text capabilities, and adjustable text sizes ensure that content is accessible to all.
• Personalization: Beyond accessibility, mobile phones enable personalized learning. With a myriad of educational apps and platforms available, students can pace their learning according to their individual needs. Whether it’s diving deeper into topics of interest or taking additional time to grasp challenging concepts, smartphones allow for this flexibility. Teachers can also benefit, using these tools to offer differentiated instruction, catering to diverse learning styles and abilities within one classroom.

In conclusion, the allowance of cell phones in class isn’t just about keeping up with the times; it’s about championing a more egalitarian and individualized approach to education. By embracing this tool, educators can create a learning environment where every student feels valued, understood, and empowered.

11. Boosts Creativity and Innovation

In a world where creativity and innovation stand as pillars of progress, integrating cell phones into the classroom can act as a catalyst to spark these vital qualities in students. Permitting the use of these multifunctional devices within educational settings can usher in an era where boundaries of traditional learning are expanded, fostering a culture of imaginative thinking and inventive problem-solving:

• Unlimited Canvas for Students: Cell phones are no longer just communication tools; they’re compact hubs of unlimited resources and applications. From digital art platforms to music creation apps, coding environments to virtual reality experiences, the scope for exploration and creation is vast. When students are granted the freedom to utilize these tools, they are essentially handed a canvas with unlimited colors.
• Boosting Creativity Through Autonomy: Research indicated that student creativity flourished the most under professors who permitted their pupils to engage in “tasks of their own choosing,” particularly in devising innovative solutions via the development of educational apps. For instance, a literature student might create a visual representation of a poem, or a science enthusiast might design a virtual experiment. Such engagements not only solidify understanding but also encourage students to think outside the box, enhancing their creative prowess.
• Collaborative Innovation: With the collaborative features many apps offer, students can work in groups, brainstorming and building upon each other’s ideas. This collaborative innovation teaches them the essence of teamwork in creation.

In essence, understanding why phones should be allowed in school goes beyond merely embracing technology; it represents an opportunity for students to think differently, challenge norms, and innovate. It’s about nurturing a generation of creators and innovators who are prepared to shape the future.

As we mentioned above, allowing students to use phones in the classroom can greatly benefit your instruction.

There are a number of ways you can use these technological tools to enhance your lessons and provide your students with access to resources they may otherwise not be able to use. Some of the top ways to effectively use cell phones in the classroom include:

1. Scanning QR Codes

Teachers can create QR codes to send students to a specific website where they can find important information. You can also use QR codes to let students self-check their work (multiple QR codes, with the one next to the correct answer directing students to the next question or problem to solve).

2. Using Educational Apps

There is a multitude of educational apps out there designed for students of all ages and all subject areas. Choosing a few of these apps to use to give your students extra practice on a skill or target a specific area of need can be quite beneficial. Take a look at our articles on educational VR apps or vocabulary games .

3. Collaborating on Assignment

Students can work together with their classmates using Google Docs and see what the other is typing. This could work with students seated together, as well as with students working separately from one another.

4. Completing Surveys and Quizzes

You can have your students answer polling questions through their phones to assess their understanding of a given topic. These questions may be written as true/false, multiple-choice, or short answers. There are many different programs and websites that can help you with creating quizzes and surveys for your students.

5. Providing Feedback to Others

Students can read other students’ writing assignments or other work and provide them with digital feedback or additional questions to consider.

6. Augmented Reality Experiences

Leveraging cell phones, students can access augmented reality (AR) tools, transforming classroom learning. AR overlays digital information onto the real world, allowing students to interact with 3D models, historical recreations, or complex diagrams. This immersive experience deepens understanding, turning abstract concepts into tangible, interactive lessons, and making learning more engaging and memorable.

7. Recording and Editing Multimedia Projects

In the classroom, cell phones empower students to create multimedia projects by recording videos, capturing photos, and editing them on the go. This hands-on approach facilitates deeper understanding, promotes creativity, and enhances presentation skills. By producing and refining content, students learn both the subject matter and vital digital literacy skills, preparing them for modern, tech-driven environments.

Once your school has settled the debate over whether gadgets should be allowed in school and decided to let students use these valuable technological resources, it is essential to teach proper phone and technology etiquette to your students and develop systems to manage cell phone use in your classroom. Using mobile phones in the classroom properly is key; they should not be a distraction or something that gets in the way of learning.

In this video, CJ Reynolds is talking about tips that he uses to keep kids off their phones without making it a big deal.

Share these rules for digital etiquette with your students to help ensure phones are a beneficial tool, not one that distracts from learning.

Put your phone down when someone is talking to you and make eye contact with the speaker. Don’t text while you are walking. Be aware of your surroundings and don’t get distracted from someone or something important. Silence your phone when you are in class. Remove your headphones if someone is trying to talk to you. Don’t post on social media during the school day. Be a good digital citizen and avoid getting into any digital drama. Know the cell phone policy for each of your teachers, and respect it when in their classroom. Don’t make your teacher, classmates, friends, or family secondary to your phone.

Watch more about digital etiquette in this video by Rich Colosi Media.

Additionally, if you’re interested in crafting your own phone policy, please refer to our specialized article on the topic.

Useful Resources

• Cell Phones in School: Let’s Talk about the Pros and Cons
• What is Classroom Management?
• 19 Big and Small Classroom Management Strategies

Final Thoughts

There are some pros and cons to consider regarding using cell phones in the classroom. However, given all the benefits that were shared above, I think the reasons to allow mobile phones in school far outweigh the reasons against allowing them. Allowing students to use their gadgets in the classroom will help keep them engaged in learning and provide them with instant access to technology, tools, and resources to help them learn.

So, now that you know the answer to the question, “why should students be allowed to use cell phones in class,” has your thinking changed? How do you see yourself using mobile phones with your students?

• “Number of mobile phone users worldwide from 2015 to 2020”, Statista
• “Share of Americans owning a smartphone in the U.S. as of June 2023, by age”, Statista
• “Should you let your kids have a cellphone in school?”, USA TODAY
• Education Awesomeness
• The Daring English Teacher
• EdTech Endeavours
• A.J. Juliani
• “Should the Cell Phones Be Allowed in Schools”, DebateWise
• “Cell Phones in School: 11 Reasons Why They Should Be Allowed”, StudentTutor
• “What age are kids when parents first buy/give them their own cell phone?”, Statista
• “School Shootings Are Fueling the Debate Over Cellphones in Class”, Education Week
• “Smartphones can improve academic performance, when used appropriately”, phys.org
• “School Communication and the Environment”, Schoolstream
• “Building lifelong learning, with the help of technology”, University of Washington
• “The Importance of Promoting Digital Citizenship for Students”, School of Education
• “Using Smartphone Cameras To Improve Student Organizational Skills”, National Education Association
• “How I use my phone as assistive technology in class”, Perkins
• “Mobile Learning Can Promote Student Creativity When Done Right”, Campus Technology
• “Cell Phones In The Classroom: Learning Tool Or Distraction”, Oxford Learning
• “Should Cell Phones Be Allowed in School?”, School of Education
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Simona Johnes is the visionary being the creation of our project. Johnes spent much of her career in the classroom working with students. And, after many years in the classroom, Johnes became a principal.

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My principal seems to have an old-school thought process about cell phones in school and has completely banned them from being out in the classroom. I’d like to let my students use them for instructional purposes. Any tips on how to change her thinking?

That is tough. I’d start by finding some other teachers in your building that share your opinion and come up with a plan to present to your principal together. Bringing data, like what I shared in the article, about how cell phones can benefit students in class could help you make your point.

I love the artice and am using it for an assingment if you see it your name or website will be on it.

Thanks for the article it is truly an elaborate article, thanks for sharing it.

yes, this is fab

my teacher does not allow phones

my whole state banned phones in class TvT

I feel like you should be able to use your phone at passing periods and breaks and also lunch.

this is a common question people ask me I 57 year old male once allowed my kids to have phones in class but one pranked called the police so I say no

This is a nice source for my citation C: Thank you.

I am writing a speech to present to my class to persuade the teachers to allow more phone usage in class, thank you for your point of view and the information.

You’re welcome!

thanks so much! this will help a lot with a project I’m doing

I am making a debate speech this is really helpful thank you!

I was not born with this new technology, cell phone, I had to learn it. Now, I am a teacher and honestly, it is great as a tool for students to use but it’s also a deterrent. Like my wife says, “You give a mouse a cookie and they will ask you for a glass of milk”. Students seem to confuse rights with privilege. My students honestly believe that they have the right to use a phone whenever they want, this includes during a class, versus asking permission. Unfortunately, others do not use it appropriately. I have no problems with the use of cell phones, as long as it is for academic achievement, but not as a school alternative (ignore teacher and ignore daily task).

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us! We completely agree about the inappropriate use of phones.

thank you! so much i don’t know what i would do without this information!

Thank you for this essay

The essay has good information but I want more. You are telling me about the technology benefits but that’s what the Chromebooks are for. So if you could give me a stronger argument I would definitely agree.

Thanks for letting us know. We will take your wishes into consideration

All nonsense!

Phones are by far the biggest distraction for teachers to deal with. You can’t compete with the entertainment value of their phone and when you have them out it away…they are still thinking about how to get around the rule. TOTAL BAN is the only way!!!

Students can not handle these devices!!!!

Thank you for sharing your opinion. I still believe there are many ways to get students’ attention in the classroom rather than on the phone.

I always enjoy the creative ways technology can be used in schools. The mix of video talks, blog ideas and teacher input this post are great ways to share ideas. Thanks for the modern takes on how to use phones in the classroom, it is refreshing!

My pleasure!

I NEED THIS FOR MY ESSAY. THANK YOU!

I believe that cell phones in schools should be friends not enemys

thank you so much

We need our phones for SAFETY ?

This was very cool and so many good reasons why we should be able to use our phones in class!

This was very helpful imformation

I appreciate this article it is so supportive and believes in this article thanks ✌

four big guys is crazy lol four big guys and they grab on my thighs

i agree they should allow phones in school but just when were are really stuck or bored. so that is why i think that.

Hey! Thank you! I needed this for my ELA class argumentative writing prompt, this information was very useful. Since my school has a no phone-in-class rule, I can’t even have it with me in my bag! The only time I have on it during weekdays is at home and on the bus. But anyways this information was essential for my project. Thank you! 😀

You’re welcome!?

This is so helpful for argumentative essays! Thank you!

Thay can be good use for kids that walk home from school or to school or both.

In many school districts, the students borrow laptops, so they don’t need cell phones. Teachers may use software to restrict the laptops to their selected educational websites. Cell phones have disrupted learning, so they must be banned or jammed in the classroom. However, when students aren’t distracted by cell phones, they will gradually become worse at running around, yelling, and fighting, like they did before their cell phone addictions. We need consistent discipline. Disruptive students should learn with fun programs on a computer in separate rooms, instead of infecting other students with bad attitudes. After a year of learning on a computer, they can try the classroom again. We also need online video in the classrooms, so everyone, especially parents, can see the discipline problems in schools. When white schools have strict discipline and cell phone bans, but minority schools don’t, which students will get the high-paying better jobs? This is racism.

I agree with this as a student! But unfurtently my school is very old school so they banned cellphones.

Thank you for this helped me with a essay im doing for school. 🙂

i agree so much?

thank you for the info cause i have been having trouble finding an article like that and i found one so thank you!?

I forgot to put that i’m having a debate about using cell phones in class.

Im a current high school student and honestly what I’ve seen is the exact opposite of this. first period English is just a majority of people being on their phones. Unless a teacher is very strict about phones usually nothing is done about it. Honestly my parents disallowing me to bring my phone to school is what changed my grades for the better for the rest of the school year up until now. Also, some students might argue for these points but it’s usually only used as a scapegoat to make the excuse of “Oh but this article says it’s good to use phones!” Still, I’ve seen phones do so much more negatives than positives as well as the points listed here barely ever being utilized.

Yes i think they should allow it for many reasons

Coming in from Parker Middle School so I am doing a essay on why we should be able to have phones in schools and even class rooms and I was wondering if you could have your word to support having cell phones in school.

phones are what brought you into this world be thankful

I love the way you used cell phones in the classroom. Me personally-I use mine for extracurriculars.

As a High School teacher, I pretty much dislike the use of cellphones. If used for emergency, yes that’s a legitimate argument and in such case, cell phones need to be accessible to students in case of an emergency. However that would be the only reason cellphones should be allowed in classrooms. I studied high school without a cellphone and I was able to be engaged, organized and learned by using other technologies. This article doesn’t mention the pros and cons of allowing cellphones in classrooms and does not consider if the benefits weigh more than the disadvantages.

Thank you this website is amazing hope I get an A+ for my argumentative essay. Wish Me Luck!

Thanks I will use this for my topic

As a teacher at my school, I can say the cell phones are 99% more a distraction than ever as a learning tool. All the kids on the phones during class is to play video games. and look at non educational sites so that’s why cell phones are banned in my classrooms. I would say if the kids understood accountability and are responsible, then it’s a different discussion.

i can use this for my project . Almost all my classmates try to sneak there phone in class . But they always get in trouble . They don’t need a phone becuase it is can make you fail class and other things that is a proably

Very valid points. I am using you as a source for my essay. Thank you.

Thanks this helped me with my Delve Project

Hi, my name is Eli and I am an 8th grader at Indianola Middle School in Iowa. I am doing a research project about a topic of my choice and I chose to research Should phones be allowed in class. I think you would be a great person to give me more information about this topic because you gave great points and reasons why phones should be allowed in school classrooms.

Thank you so much for this article, Love your work!!!

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No TikTok? No problem. Here's why you shouldn't rush to buy your child a phone.

With so many kids online so much of the time, our children are more exposed than ever to dangers they're not ready to guard themselves against..

The longer I am a mother , the more I find myself reflecting on my childhood and how it compares and contrasts with my daughters' lives.

So much is the same: picky eaters, feet that grow out of new shoes too fast, tears spilled over math homework and talks about who said what to whom on the playground.

But there is one thing that makes everything about being a kid so different today: cellphones .

Phones have changed how kids interact

When I was in third grade, about 1992, my small, private school in Denver had one big hulk of a computer that we wheeled around the whole building for each classroom to use.

Today, kids as young as 8 (or less) have social media accounts on their own smartphones, where they spend hours every day living entire lives in a 4x7 inch screen. Incessantly scrolling, chatting and comparing.

I get why parents want their kids to have phones: mainly to stay in touch. I also get that screen time for kids and teens means free time for us. When we are constantly being emailed and texted, when the demands to do so many things professionally and for our kids are at an all-time high, when we want a minute to scroll mindlessly as we descend down the rabbit hole that is Pinterest (or pick your poison), cellphones and tablets provide momentary respite from our overbooked days.

And there's nothing new about warning of the dangers of cellphones for kids (or for us). But phones are so ubiquitous that we read the bad news about the latest study, feel guilty and quickly move on.

I want to remind you why we should be thinking, and talking, about our kids' cellphone use.

Phones are everywhere: 95% of teens say they have access to a cellphone, and 58% of teens report using TikTok daily, according to a 2023 Pew Research Center survey .

With that many kids online, that much of the time, our children are more exposed than ever to dangers they're not ready to guard themselves against: stolen identities, pornography, pedophilia, the list goes on.

More from Carli Pierson on parenting: My 8-year-old daughter got her first sleepover invite. There's no way she's going.

There's also the issue of how phones and social media make kids feel about themselves. In " The Conquest of Happiness ," Bertrand Russell wrote: "The habit of thinking in terms of comparison is a fatal one."

But that's what social media is – one big social comparison. Who has a better body? Who has more money? Who has a more interesting life? More friends? More likes?

For teens and preteens with all the additional difficulties that accompany those years, that sounds like a heavy burden. And it is: Teen suicide rates are rising , and while social media isn't the only factor, in some cases we know it's a contributor .

Should kids be allowed to have phones?

I have other questions that the research doesn't answer.

What is smartphone use doing to kids' ability to be creative? How will that affect their capacity to deal with the parade of letdowns and monotony that is such a integral part of human existence? When our children grow up, will they be able to handle not being entertained? Will they be able to carry a conversation?

Harvey Weinstein case and #MeToo: Why was his conviction for sexual crimes overturned? Sometimes the courts get things wrong.

Phones and kids should be an ongoing conversation in our homes. We should be talking about the dangers of addiction. We need to teach them that obsessing over other people's lives, or comparing themselves with another person they may or may not know, isn't healthy or helpful. We want to show them that being able to strike up, hold and gracefully walk away from a conversation is an art that needs practice. And they need to understand that being bored is OK.

Now, I am not a masochist – my kids have tablets that they watch movies and play games on. I am not saying kids should never have a phone or a tablet.

But kids and parents need to do more handholding and hugging, more talking and discussing, more daydreaming. We need to get back to resting in the grass and experiencing that peaceful feeling of watching the clouds float by. And we need fewer handheld objects to distract and entertain us.

Life is short, childhood is even shorter. Let's work harder to save our kids from a childhood spent inside a phone.

Carli Pierson is a digital editor at USA TODAY  and a New York-licensed attorney.

Students should not be allowed to use mobile phones at school. Do you agree or disagree with this view

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13 Surprising Pros of Cell Phones in School

Even though much of the public debate is against it, there are pros associated with allowing cell phones in school. No matter where you come down on the issue, these advantages shouldn't be ignored.

Cell phones in schools can actually add value to the educational experience rather than simply be a detriment to it. From their handiness in emergencies to their help in keeping kids organized, there are a lot of benefits to having phones in school.

Offers Instant Communication in Emergencies (or Anytime)

Although you hope that you will never have to do this, you sometimes need to get in contact with your school-aged child while they're in class. This could be because of a death in the family, an accident, or other family emergency that may require their attention or attendance.

• By being able to text or call your child directly, you also help alleviate the workload of the school's administrative team.
• Phones are also super useful during recess and lunch hours when students aren't in class and may be difficult to find.
• Parents can also reduce the problem of knowing where kids are after school when they have the ability to call or text them and vice versa.
• Text messages can make communicating easy and discreet. Parents and kids can keep each other updated throughout the day.

Works a as Cost-Effective Learning Aid

Students who have a phone can use handy applications to actually help with homework and schoolwork. These apps are designed for students to assist in learning. Similar to the programs found on a laptop or desktop computer, they can reinforce important skills. Being able to look up facts quickly on the internet is also handy on phones.

If a student needs assistance with classwork and doesn't have access to a computer, they can use a phone in a snap. In fact, the National Education Association reports that smartphones can often be cost-effective for schools that can't afford to purchase technology for all students.

Quick Tip Having a phone at school can also help kids do their homework after school. On the bus, kids can use the internet to work on homework, but with a phone, they can set up a mobile hotspot for their Chromebooks or just look things up as needed. This lets them stay ahead of the game with work and get that much-needed chill time when they get home.

Handy as a Studying and Memory Aid

Cell phones can be beneficial to students when reviewing and studying for exams or tests. Using a phone camera, kids can take pictures in class. This is great for science class, for example, where they may be exposed to certain creatures, plants, and other things that they probably won't encounter anywhere else. This is much more effective than simply producing a quick sketch.

Pictures can also be useful to:

• Photograph an assignment
• Photograph a whiteboard discussion
• Help students remember a step-by-step process

Reviewing photos or videos later can help students better understand the procedure in metalwork, woodwork, or other hands-on courses.

Useful for Calendar and Task List

Nearly every mobile phone has a built-in calendar function, and this can be very useful for kids who have a hard time remembering test dates, assignment due dates, and other such details where time is of the essence. By putting these in a cell phone organizer and assigning an alarm, they'll never forget again! After all, paper-based agendas and notebooks can be easily lost, forgotten, overlooked, or scribbled over.

The organization doesn't stop there, either. Kids can use the Notes app or other similar note-taking programs to make a simple task list or jot down reminders about things they need to do. Think of the phone as a one-stop organization shop.

Helpful for Note-Taking With Voice Notes

Cell phones' voice recording feature can be beneficial to students who would like a quick way to keep track of what they need to do. After all, students may not always have immediate access to a notepad, so using a cell phone to "jot down" important information can be helpful. There are numerous voice memo apps that can be useful for both teachers and students in a classroom.

Quick Tip Voice recording can even help make classroom instruction more accessible to students who learn in different ways. After all, not everyone learns by writing notes or reading textbooks. Some kids benefit from being able to listen to a lecture or lesson several times to really understand it.

Adds Peace of Mind With Phone GPS Tracking

GPS tracking can be a benefit of cell phones to parents who want to be able to keep tabs on their kids' whereabouts. Using GPS to track a cell phone can provide peace of mind to concerned parents and teachers if a student is reported missing or has gone somewhere of concern. GPS tracking can also inform parents that their children have arrived to and from school safely .

Useful for Storing Emergency Contact Information

Important phone numbers can be easily stored in cell phones. For students, this can be important in case they become sick while at school or are in an emergency situation. Their cell phone can contain important numbers such as their parents' work, doctor's office, dentist, and who to call in case of an emergency, as well as numbers of close family members and friends.

Quick Tip That contact info isn't only useful in emergencies, either. Kids can form social connections with peers and keep track of other kids' numbers and contact info with a phone (it's right there, so it's easy to add a phone number for that new kid in class). Then they can reach out after school to build those bonds of friendship.

Fosters Classroom Collaboration

Cell phones can assist in providing a modern alternative to standard teaching and can encourage student participation. For example:

• The website platform Poll Everywhere lets teachers create poll questions to which students can respond via their cell phones.
• Students can also use cell phones to collaborate with each other and also to connect with kids in other schools or geographic areas.
• Phones can also connect students to specialists in specific subjects for assistance or advice.

Offer Training for Modern Living

Cell phones have unquestionably become fixtures in everyday life for most adults. In fact, 89% of students between ages 13 and 17 use mobile devices regularly. Cell phones will not only be a part of their everyday lives now and in the future but will also be important in many careers. Knowing how to use mobile devices effectively is an important skill to have in modern society. Incorporating mobile technology in the classroom is key to preparing students for the future.

Related: 62 Things to Talk About on the Phone

Provides a Classroom Research Tool

Smartphones are equipped with calculators, a plethora of apps, the internet, and research tools. Showing students how to use their smartphones to seek out information and educate themselves is a great lesson to promote. Students are using social networks to find answers to questions that they don't understand or know. If students and teachers collaborate and collectively seek out concepts that are confusing, using cell phones to do so can be an incredibly powerful tool that expands teacher's lesson plans for the better.

Quick Tip Phones also offer a great way for kids to learn about critical thinking. They can be a hands-on way to teach about avoiding scams, identifying questionable sources of information, and how to use the web safely.

Promotes Student Independence

Enabling students to use their phones in the classroom inherently develops trust between the students and their teacher. Although phones can cause distraction, creating highly engaging lesson plans where the students are actively using their phones to find answers can be a great way to promote healthy cell phone usage for the purpose of learning.

Fosters Trust Between Students and Teachers

Teachers who allow students to use their cellphones in class must be able to trust that their students are participating appropriately. To do so, it's important to introduce engaging content and monitor cell phone usage. This creates a great opportunity for teachers to model healthy cell phone usage for their students. This means that the teacher and students work together while using their cell phones during the lesson plan and disengage from using their phones when not appropriate.

Creates More Inclusive Learning Environment

For students who learn and/or communicate differently, using their cell phone as a learning and communicating aid can make a world of difference. Allowing cell phones in the classroom opens up the door for many students who are differently abled to be able to participate and thrive in the classroom setting, where they would otherwise have difficulty.

Remember to Weigh Both Sides

Bringing a phone to school can have both positive and negative consequences . Many schools have set rules in place regarding cell phones and whether they're allowed in the school or classroom. Parents can decide whether their child should bring a phone to school — as long as it is not against the rules — and set appropriate guidelines regarding the use of the phone. Like any tool, a phone in school is all about how you use it.