By Adam Blakemore
Students all get the same speech at the start of the year about why they are not allowed to use a cellphone at school. This speech has some valid points, and as technology advances, the speech just gets longer.
It used to be that cell phones could only call people, which started the problem of phones ringing and interrupting class. As phones have been constantly upgraded, they are gaining more hold in the lives of youth. On top of that, now that we can text as well, there is a whole new world of cheating out there, with answers being only one short text away.
With the addition of smart phones, the internet is now readily accessible from anywhere, making phones into something more like small computers. A student can all too easily look up the answer to any problem from the security of their pocket or purse, and no one is the wiser. This has caused teachers to crack down harder on phone usage, which of course, leads to further outcries from students.
There is also the capability to view videos and play games anywhere, which is not only a distraction for the user of the phone, but also leads to others being distracted by watching it. Although this might be acceptable in some situations, there is a time and place for everything, and schools are a place for the fostering of knowledge, not for useless diversions.
Cell phone use has also changed the way teenagers write and talk, with people using texter’s lingo. Instead of writing out words like “you” and “are”, they are using “U” and “R”. When kids are trying to say something that is really funny, they should not say “Lol”, they should just laugh, I thought that was common sense.
You would think teens would be able to separate the “Cyber” world from the real one, but a lot of the time it seems like they cannot make the separation in their minds. They are not able to distance themselves from their phones, and this can lead to people knowing where you are at all times, which is completely unnecessary.
People used to be able to go ten minutes without letting the world know exactly how they felt, but with the fact that everyone can now tweet off their phones that seems to have changed. The rational people try to avoid this addiction, but eventually they will get sucked into it.
Although there is certainly some good points to be said about the usage of cell phones in a school environment, it is only a good idea if the students can handle it, and I believe that high schoolers just are not responsible enough to handle it.
Becca Soon • Mar 29, 2012 at 8:25 pm
I don’t think cell phones are appropriate during class. I agree with the fact that school an environment where kids are supposed to focus and learn; not be distracted by texts. On the other hand, I think kids should be able to use their phones when class is dismissed. Like on the way to their lockers or at lunch because they might need to get into contact with someone quickly or they just need to get their minds off of the previous class. I think phones are inappropriate during class time, but appropriate when class is dismissed.
Rachel Pugh • Jan 5, 2012 at 7:49 pm
I can definitely understand schools’ reasoning in not allowing cell phones in school. I have personally seen kids whip out there phones to find an answer during a test and get away with it—and it definitely upsets me. I agree with Sarah Beth that because not all students are mature or honest enough to be trusted, we unfortunately do not have the privilege of using our phones in school. I agree with the point mentioned that teens have come to depend on technology and especially cell phones too much. I also think that the impersonal use of text messages in place of socializing in person does little to form true relationships and to develop necessary social skills needed in the real world.
Brooke Dancy • Jan 2, 2012 at 9:39 pm
Cell phones are what teenagers revolve their life around. With the touch of a screen or a click of a button, you can get hold of any type of information that you’d like. I do believe that you should be able to have your phone in your bookbag, but I do not think that the high schoolers here would be able to handle the responsibility and trust given to them if we were allowed to use our cellphones in school. I think that this article made a lot of valid points, however with the title being “Pro/con…” I thought that this article supported the negative side of the topic instead of viewing both the good and bad effects of the situation.
Lindsay Varga • Jan 2, 2012 at 8:58 pm
I do agree that cell phones are not needed when you are in a high school classroom. If cell phones were allowed, can you imagine how chaotic it would be? No one would be learning. Students would be too busy surfing the web, checking their social networking sites, texting, playing “Words with Friends,” and countless other things. I know all of this because I do it too. I love tweeting, but I know I have 16 other hours in the day to do it. I feel that we should be allowed to have a time during school to have access to our phones, such as our lunch block. Technology plays such a big roll in our lives, and it’s not going away.
Melissa Tomlin • Jan 2, 2012 at 6:22 pm
I think that cells phones are a huge part of today’s society especially to teenagers. They are used to text, call, get on Facebook and twitter, and can be used many other ways. Though I believe that many teenagers are not mature enough to have access to their cell phones during the entire school day. I think that they should be allowed to use them in the hall ways and even in the commons but not while the teacher is teaching.
Michaela Harrison • Jan 1, 2012 at 3:50 pm
I believe that cell phones are great sources of information for student and are more accessible that computers. The idea that students can’t tottally be trusted to JUST be using their cell phones academically is true. The temptation of texting is just a click away. Students shouldn’t have cell phones in school because there’s no way to assure the administration what exactly the students are doing.
Sarah Beth Howard • Jan 1, 2012 at 2:34 pm
When it comes down to cell phone usage in schools, the major point is maturity. Are students mature enough to use cell phones for emergencies only? Or are students immature enough to cheat or use cell phones incorrectly in this environment? The main reason that schools don’t accept that cell phones could be used in schools is because the adults only feel that they can trust select students not to abuse a technological free pass. Although I do admit to forgetting to turn off my cell phone before school, I would never text because I have school work and other activities to worry about. School is here to try to teach students discipline, and cell phones are a 21st century example of disciplining work from play. Also, courts and other important places do not allow cell phones anymore because the abilities of a cell phone have transformed from emergency phone calls to being recording devices and camera phones. Court buildings are the prime example of disciplining oneself from technology….although the consequences there could be much more severe.
Bradley Cooper • Jan 1, 2012 at 10:42 am
The education system was not prepared for the technology boom of the present, but I believe our policy against the use of electronic devices is absurd. I do not believe our school system should have the right to take our phones and not return them until we serve detention. What if we happen to be in an emergency situation (in or out of school) and did not have any way of communicating with emergency services and/or our parents because our phones were in the hands of our school system?
Parth Patel • Dec 29, 2011 at 2:35 pm
Schools should not allow cell phones in classrooms. They can be used to cheat on test and are also a source of distraction for other students. In this growing age of technology students need to be exposed to it but by other means. The traditional means of presenting a topic is by using Power Point but this method has started bored students. The teachers need to start finding other outlets to get the students involved maybe somehow implementing cell phones.
Caleb Johnson • Dec 12, 2011 at 5:24 pm
School is in fact a facility for learning and cell phones just aren’t appropriate for the setting. I think with the growing age of technology that there needs to be some sort of median between students and authority when it comes to technology usage. There are new gadgets being invented everyday and teenagers are attracted to them. If teachers could cultivate their lessons to include some technology other than a PowerPoint than i think lessons would be more enjoyable, the need to text would be lessened, and student production could increase.