Phones in Schools: A Benefit or a Deficit?

9/25/2018

Many teachers and school admin struggle with the use of cell phones in school on an almost daily basis. Many schools have banned cell phone use because they believe them to have a negative impact on learning. This is a widespread and widely debated topic, and there are many differing views on it.

One point of view is that children being allowed to have their phones in school can provide them with an elevated learning experience because they can have immediate access to research anything that they need. Another school of thought is from the parents. The parents believe that they should have control over whether or not they allow there kids to take phones to school or not, and that the school should stay out of it. Most parents believe that the schools banning phones in the classroom is an extreme measure. They want to be able to have immediate contact with their kids while they are traveling to school, in school, or on the way home from school. However, this doesn't mean that the parents are blind to the distractions that cell phones can cause.

Many cell phone providers offer the capabilities of parents to prevent their children from accessing certain things, like the internet, unless they're allowed to. This can help with the control of cell phone use in schools. Parents want the ability to decide without the school making the decision for them. Most schools, even if they haven't banned cell phones, have rules regarding the use of phones. For example, they must be on silent, they can only be used during passing periods, etc. This is another subject for debate, as banning phones in schools is no longer just a black and white issue, it's a more widespread litany of differing opinions and options, and no one has been able to quite agree on any of them.

The many trains of thought are always battling for advantage in this ongoing debate. What is your opinion on phone use in schools? Is it a benefit, or a deficit? Do you think that the schools should have the right to ban cells phones even being present, or should that decision be left to the parents?

43 Comments

McKinlee

9/25/2018 02:30:53 pm

Phones are both a benefit and a deficit in school. It does allow parents to keep in contact with their students but the kids also tend to text and play games during class. I don’t think schools should outright ban cellphones but I do believe there should be rules on useage within the classroom.

Conrad D.

9/29/2018 09:09:35 pm

Good point that there should be usage rules in the classroom. I think those rules should be made and enforced by the teacher. Look at Mr. Born's class for example, phones are in there but under his eye, none are ever used during his class. This allows for the best learning.

Jesse B.

9/30/2018 04:23:00 pm

Since you suggest regulations on classroom smartphone use, what would those be? What would you consider fair for both the student and teacher? I wholeheartedly agree that there are pros and cons to phones in school and that educational institutions should not completely bar students from using their devices.

Mckinlee

9/30/2018 05:14:09 pm

The kids can use their phone when their teacher allows it. During tests and such the teacher should be allowed to collect the phones to prevent cheating. If a parent contacts their child through the phone (although they should just call the office?) then the kid needs to tell the teacher if it’s that important. I mean there’s more but ya know just a few for example.

Katarina

9/30/2018 04:39:40 pm

I agree. Parents now are in constant frantic when they can’t get ahold of their child even when they are supposed to be in class. So not allowing a cell phone may make a lot of parents upset with the school.

Kenna

9/30/2018 04:55:29 pm

I agree. Schools definitely should not just outlaw phones. Teachers are the ones that should set the rules in their classrooms.

Kelsey

9/29/2018 12:19:52 pm

The decision to either allow or ban phones in the classroom should be left to the teacher or the school. If the student needs to contact someone during the day they can do that between classes or during their breaks. Getting an education is a privilege, so an insignificant decision such as this should be completely up to the educators. Phones in schools are a deficit. Having them in class is distracting, and it takes away from critical learning curves. Being able to do research through reading books is important because it forces the student to spend time not looking at a screen, and more importantly, nonfiction books are often highly credible sources and provide more accurate information than the internet. If someone takes the time to write a book on a specific topic, they had to do intensive research and have feasible citations. Using books for research is a way to escape fake news and have confidence with the source instead of having to continually fact check. Furthermore, having the skill to find information (without literally typing the question in google and immediately getting the answer) requires focus and concentration which ultimately helps with everyday projects/tasks. On another note, students being able to constantly access social media is highly distracting in a learning environment, and causes unnecessary drama and depression. If schools said no to phones, then this could be a solution to solving the increasing depression and anxiety rates that have skyrocketed in teens.

Conrad D.

9/29/2018 08:51:14 pm

I completely agree that phones are a huge distraction in class, I have certainly found that out myself, but I use my phone for way more that a distraction and actually rarely use it for research. I am constantly calling customers, and contacting people for other non-school and important uses, I would be in trouble if I couldn't have my phone at all in school. If kids shouldn't use phones for research because books are much more accurate and provide better skill, then shouldn't computers be removed as well because students are accessing the same material from their phone as they would on a computer?

Sadie

9/30/2018 06:23:09 pm

I've noticed a lot more freedom being a senior. Most of us are mature enough to handle our own phone use and teachers know that. Those who are younger though shouldn't need their phone as much. We have more responsibilities than they do. It gives us more reason to have a handheld computer.

Sariah

9/30/2018 07:13:02 pm

I agree with both of your points made here. I can agree that I too use my phone for non-school related things in school and I am still getting my school work in. Cell phones are also a good way to communicate meetings and dress up days and remind kids of events or places they need to be while in school. I believe that the benefits of having phones in schools is a lot greater than not.

Katherine

9/30/2018 05:27:25 pm

I agree that sometimes phones are not the best source for research. However, they could be more up to date than books. They can be very distracting though. I definitely cannot say that I don't check my phone while I'm in school. Schools saying no to phones wouldn't solve the problem of increasing depression and anxiety, I think that the ban would have to be outside of school as well to truly fight that.

Saylor

9/30/2018 05:32:37 pm

I agree, phones are a huge distraction. Most teachers have policies on what we can do with our phones. Like turning them on silent t and keeping them face down, but most teachers allow us to use them for research. If we aloud to use our phones at all teachers would have to rely on getting technology for the whole class which is too much to ask of them if we already have technology on hand.

Sadie

9/30/2018 06:16:06 pm

I often feel like I was born in the wrong generation. Life before technology seems so freeing. Unfortunately, we have all given into society. If not having a smart phone makes an individual happy, I so admire that. I wish we all had the courage to just throw all that away. But we don't....

Sariah

9/30/2018 07:11:10 pm

I like Sadie’s comment about how Seniors are given more freedom with their cell phones because teachers know we usually are getting done what we need to because we have experienced not staying on task. I agree that their should be more regulation on under classmen because they definitely do abuse it. This however does not mean that some upper classman don’t abuse it, it is just less often then under classmen.

Conrad D.

9/29/2018 08:36:15 pm

Phone use is not for the school to ban or encourage. It is completely the parents decision if their kids are responsible enough to bring phones to school or even have them in the first place. As for in school, I think phones are a good resource to have, and are also very necessary for communication. Schools already treat them in the right way, it is up to the teachers discretion whether students can have them out or use them in class. This allows phones to be present but not a distraction during school.

Mckinlee

9/30/2018 05:18:18 pm

You said that you think schools already treat phones in the right way and I agree with that. Teachers’ have their own rules for each classroom and I think it works pretty well.

Brooke

9/30/2018 05:40:34 pm

Phones are a great help when it comes to research, so why shouldn't we be allowed the usage? Unfortunately, we don't always use tech for that method alone. I agree, the way schools are dealing with this controversy seem quite reasonable. Besides, when has an absolute ban ever been actually absolute?

Saylor

9/30/2018 12:46:47 pm

Schools should not be aloud to ban phones. They can definitely be a distraction for students, but there can be rules set by teachers. If the phone is on silent and face down it is not distracting anyone. Phones are used every day for different things, some teachers allow students to use their phone for research. There are times when students should not be be aloud to use their phones like during testing, but for assignments and projects we should be aloud to use our phones for research. Phones can both be a benefit and deficit, but if they're used correctly and when the teacher says we can there is nothing wrong with them being in school.

Kenna

9/30/2018 02:56:15 pm

I agree, phones can be a distraction but teachers can set rules to stop this. The phone on silent and face down is a great example. Not using phones for research would just be a waste.

Kenna

9/30/2018 02:35:51 pm

There are both benefits and definites to having phones in school. I think that teachers should be able to set the rules for phone use in their classes. Some students just aren't respectful and use their phone whenever and if they aren't paying attention they won't learn. This means that teachers need to have some rules regarding phones in their classes. However, phones are a useful resource and should be used to their full potential.

Jesse B.

9/30/2018 04:16:35 pm

You are right in saying that there are those students that continue to use their phones even when told not to. The teachers have the rules, they just need to implement them and follow through with consequences. What would you deem a proper punishment for the students who use their phones a disrespectful amount? Do you think parents should get involved with how their child uses their phone in class?

Katarina

9/30/2018 04:37:44 pm

I agree. If we have them we might as well use them to our benefit and resource.

Saylor

9/30/2018 05:35:30 pm

I agree, the schools cant ban phones, but if the teachers set rules that we have to follow, there is no problem with bot having to be on our phones until we are aloud to be. It's hard to pay attention and learn if we are being distracted by our phones. To make our phones less of a distraction, we turn them on silent and set them face down.

Jazz-Lynn

9/30/2018 07:31:30 pm

I agree that teachers should be able to set their own rules. I think phones have a lot of practical use in schools today, and students shouldn't be punished for using them unless they are misbehaving with them.

Jesse B.

9/30/2018 04:08:47 pm

The amount of technological advancements in the past 30 years regarding portable phones is jaw-dropping. From barely being able to make a phone call to now being able to use the internet, text, play games, pay for groceries, and much more, smartphones are astounding. All of this progress comes at a cost though. These devices have become distractions for students and nuisances for teaches in the classroom environment. There are some who might argue that a ban on smartphones would be our best option for capping this calamity. In reality, this would only make the problem worse than it already is. Not only would this be nearly impossible to do since virtually everyone has a smartphone, but now it would hinder the educational process. I can personally vouch and say that during a school day, I use my phone for just about the same amount of time for class work (with apps like the calculator, Google Classroom, PowerSchool, etc.) as I do with social media apps. The block on phones would make submitting online assignments harder to do and slow down the classroom. A real solution to this issue would be to have limits on when and where phones can be used at school like what we have now. As a school, Salmon Junior Senior High is in a good place right now and all that needs to happen is to have the rules enforced by the faculty. As for the parents, it is their choice in the first place to allow the child to get a phone, so it should also be their choice on how their offspring should use it. The parents should not bar them from taking it to school unless the phone usage has become a problem.

Kelsey

9/30/2018 05:04:11 pm

I use my phone a lot through out the day too because most classes require it, but I would rather not have to use it if the class didn't require it. I think expecting students to do homework through phones is troublesome because some kids do not have a smartphone and sometimes the ones that do have technical problems or their phone isn't completely compatible with what ever program they need. Also, personally, I think being on a phone for most of the day is not healthy, so I'd prefer if phones were not allowed in class.

Rachel

9/30/2018 05:37:33 pm

I agree that being on phones all day is not healthy. Honestly, life is much simpler without the use of technology sometimes. As for social media use, I admit to using social media on my phone at school, but I can also say that the amount of time I spend on social media is less than or equal to the time used for classwork. In addition, technology does have its downfalls, and the compatibility problems you spoke of are all too common. But, nothing is perfect and I think that if a teacher assigns homework to be completed through a device, than he or she must be willing to work with the student through any difficulties they might have.

Challis

9/30/2018 04:35:30 pm

Phones in school are benefitial if used for the right things but having a phone in the classroom is a right that can be taken away by the teacher if a student is not using it for their education. Class should have each students full attention but if the teacher wants to allow students to use their phones to research they should be able to. If someone decides to abuse their right of having their cellphone and distract others or themselves the rest of the school should not be punished. There are good kids that still pay attention in class that would prefer to have their phone on them.

Kelsey

9/30/2018 04:56:46 pm

I do agree that it is unfair to take away the rights of students because one student didn't follow the rules, we all know what that feels like. But, even if everyone did follow the rules, phones would still be hindering education in some ways like getting accurate information.

Brooke

9/30/2018 05:45:45 pm

Yes, phones are beneficial when used in the right way. But how do teachers know who is using their tech for knowledge and not pleasure? Sadly, they cannot pick and choose who, so all must be punished. Which is unfair but a solution. How else could we solve that issue?

Katarina

9/30/2018 04:36:32 pm

Cell phones have their benefits but they also have a downfall. I think they should be allowed in schools when being used during the appropriate time or for an appropriate use. If you are sitting in class and have down time I don’t see why they can’t be in use but if you are disrespecting a teacher during a lecture because of your cell phone then it’s not okay. They should be allowed in schools and allowed to be used at school as long as it’s at an appropriate time.

Challis

9/30/2018 05:01:08 pm

Phones definitely have pros and cons so I agree there is a time and place and I think the person teaching the class should decide when that time is appropriate.

Mckinlee

9/30/2018 05:20:44 pm

Phones can be really useful for projects and I think even teachers find them to be good at times. But like you said if someone disrespects the teacher and their rules then it’s not okay, and I think that in that instant the teacher should be allowed to take the phone away without repercussions.

Katherine

9/30/2018 05:22:37 pm

I don't think that it should be the school's decision to ban cell phones or similar electronics. Teachers should have set rules for them instead. If the teacher doesn't want you using the phone, you could just set it face down or leave it in your locker. Some classes do need access to the internet though, because of research, and with that scenario I think it would be acceptable to use phones. If it is a distraction, then the user could have it taken away or have some sort of punishment. Overall, a cell phone is not a deficit, but it's not a complete benefit either.

Brooke

9/30/2018 05:24:45 pm

There is no denying the role of technology in the classroom. Here I am, typing my views upon the issue of phones-and-education, on my own phone, for school education. Ha. Tricky. I find it agreeable to have teachers monitor students' phones when they find it necessary. It makes sense, and it's what we do anyway. Completely banning phones entirely would be a waste of time, and would not solve anything. Yes, they are a distraction, and I wish we were not so connected (or obsessed), but it is reasonable to have the educator decide upon the usage of phones in their class because of the benefits technology has provided us.

Rachel

9/30/2018 05:31:17 pm

Why do you think we are so "connected(or obsessed) with our phones? I think that it is because we as humans as essentially lazy and enjoy having the world at our fingertips. The social media craze, I think, is so popular because people want to know what others think about them and want to portray their "best self" for the world to see. How do you think we can control what we use our phones for in the classroom?

Rachel

9/30/2018 05:26:43 pm

Devices in school settings are definitely a distraction. I agree with Kelsey's idea of leaving the decision up to the administrators. I have found that for some teachers, a complete ban on cell phones works best, but others encourage their students to utilize their devices for research purposes. I do think that phones should be allowed in school, in case a student needs to use them for an emergency or for another school related matter. An alternative solution could be creating a student wifi that blocks social media sites. If students cannot access those sites then the teachers could be sure that they are only using their phones for research purposes.

Katherine

9/30/2018 05:29:50 pm

I agree that for some teachers it should be banned and for others it shouldn't be. A student wifi that blocks social media would only be partway effective. If students have data then they don't need to use the wifi. Without the wifi, they can use social media. There are also apps that allow you to bypass the restrictions on the internet.

Sadie

9/30/2018 06:10:14 pm

This issue will not really matter to us once we leave high school. In college, no one is going to care if you have your phone out or not. For all the kids who are still in K-12 though have to follow rules. The only person who should be able to take your phone is your parents. In any other situation, taking someone's phone is honestly a violation of rights, in my opinion. Most people have very personal information on their phones that has extreme sentimental value to them. No one remains calm when they lose their phone. Such an attachment is pretty unhealthy, like an addiction. We can't function normally without it, so why fight it? It sounds bad, but just because something has deficits doesn't mean we should ignore the benefits.

Jazz-Lynn

9/30/2018 07:28:30 pm

I completely agree with you! Our generation is addicted to our devices, and when they are taken, it can produce even worse results. In every place but high school or the home, taking someone's phone is a crime, so it shouldn't be considered appropriate in schools.

Challis

9/30/2018 07:33:42 pm

I kind of agree but I kind of don't. I think that a teacher has a right to take someone's phone if they are using it in class when they are not supposed to. Teachers should only be able to take it for that class hour though, not the whole day.

Sariah

9/30/2018 07:05:58 pm

I believe that monitoring the regulation of cell phones is extremely hard especially in this day and age. This is because, one all kids have them, two they are quite small and can be hid easily, and three they can be a useful tool in learning. These 3 things apply to our school and many others.

In our school specifically we only have one small computer lab to share with jr. And sr. High schools. It is often hard to do this considering there is IDLA in there every hour and most kids do not have a lap top of there own. What they do have though is a cell phone and it is a lot easier for teachers to just say that the kids can pull out their phones. I know from experience that my phone helps me a lot with school work. (For instance this blog post is coming from my cell phone) Now a days too there are school apps you can get for free to help with organizing, typing, and editing your school work.

I believe in our schools situation it is important to have the phones at school because kids can get their school work done even though it can cause distraction. I also believe though that if all students got lap tops to do school work on they would no longer need their cell phones at school besides to contact a parent incase of emergency.

Jazz-Lynn

9/30/2018 07:23:46 pm

I think that phone usage in class should be decided by each individual teacher. It is important that kids have a way to contact their parents throughout the day, but I think that can be done during breaks or lunch. If a student chooses to use their phone as a distraction, then the person they are harming the most is themselves. A teacher should have the ability to not allow phones in their class, but I think that taking someone's property isn't acceptable. Students should respect the rules that a teacher gives, but the punishment should be something other than taking an object that they can't function without. The instant panic teens feel when they are separated from their device is more of a distraction than answering a text. I agree that the student should be punished if they are ignoring a lecture for their phone, but I think that taking it from them is not the right option.

Phones in Schools: A Benefit or a Deficit?

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