Cell phones have become an “essential” in student life. Many school districts struggle over the issue of whether or not to ban the phones. In my experience I’ve found that most districts prohibit the use of cell phones during school hours. A few districts have backed down from that standard and allowed them during passing times and lunch because of parent complaints.
I can see the student perspective on this issue. Students sometimes chat in class, why not text? Of course it takes away from the whole learning process, but that’s not the student’s purpose in coming to school anyway.
From an administrator’s point of view there are a few valid points that students overlook. Primarily, learning is disrupted. Rather than focusing on the teacher, the students feign attention while texting their friends gossip. In addition, cheating becomes a bigger issue. For a long time the standardized tests have prohibited electronic communication devices. If the state of Michigan prohibits the use, why should districts have to back down? Lastly, and sadly, inappropriate material has been sent via cell phones. This is a bigger issue than most parents realize. Parents are held accountable for their child’s actions. This means that they (the parent, not the student) can be charged with trafficking inappropriate materials if the child sends it at school.
In conclusion, cell phones are wonderful. They are very helpful and alleviate the need to use office phones after school. Unfortunately technology abuse has limited the school’s ability to embrace the use of cell phones.
Comments (5)
Julie:
I read this just after my 15 year old spent most of the week without her cell phone, which spent its week in a drawer in the school office. The phone was confiscated because my daughter was texting during a class. Three detentions later, she does not appear to be sorry for using it, just sorry to have been caught. I sympathize with the school for having to manage this new disciplinary issue on top of all the others. I agree that leaving cell phones at home would improve student learning, but as a parent, I want my child to have a cell phones to communicate about afterschool plans and transportation needs, etc. Now that texting while driving has become such a big problem, it’s clear that parents, students, schools, and law enforcement are going to have to work together to come up with a way manage the use of cell phones in our society.
Julie~
I agree that the cell phone is a good communication tool. You’re right, we all need to work together on this issue. Thank you for supporting discipline even when it’s inconvenient. We need more parents like you!
The key to this debate, as well as the one over i-Pods, is one of delayed gratification. There is a time and a place for texting and it is neither behind the driver’s seat nor in a desk chair. We somehow have to teach students why they cannot use their cell phones during class. Until they actually have an appreciation of the negative effects of using cell phones at inappropriate times, teenagers are going to continue to fight for what they see as their right to use their cell phones all the time. While we wait for this epiphany, I think the only solution is for schools to be very clear about expectations and consequences with both students and parents and follow through with them.
You make a good point. We need to look for long term solutions rather than short term ones.
These are valid points. Cell phones are a major distraction and do not belong in the classroom. I am not saying that students should not have cell phones. I think they are certainly important at certain times but they do not belong behind the wheel while driving or in the classroom while learning should be taking place. They have their own time and place.