The Daily News authored an article regarding the pros and cons of cell phone use in our schools. Both parents and children agree that safety is the number one priority, and that teachers should be able to manage their classrooms without banning the use of cell phones. However, teachers and administers agree that the increased cell phone use is both a distraction and a disruption in the classroom, and no clear solution is in sight.
In our ever-changing technology driven society, there will always be a logical justification for why we must possess the things we do. In the case of cell phones, no one can or will do without them. Indeed, email has nearly bankrupted the U.S. Post Office, and cell phones have eliminated the need for a landline. We can no longer leave home without a tool belt filled with electronics. We are all accessible 24/7 via cell phone and for parents, this idea is a dream come true.
As both a member of our group and a parent, Tara, fully agrees with the parents who voiced their concerns about their children having phones in school. She works long hours, far from home and needs to get in touch with her son during the day. According to Tara, “we live in a post-Columbine world and having real-time contact with our children can be vital… As a single parent, I text my son during the day with information he needs.”
There is no question that cell phone use in the classroom is a distraction. It has also aided in cheating on exams. Not to mention the fact that children play video games and text message during class. If you go into any classroom in the United States, you will find students using their phones under their loose leaf, books, or desks. Nonetheless, teachers have enough responsibility and clearly do not want to add cell phone supervisor to their ever-increasing resume.
It is sad to say but cheating will, unfortunately, always occur. Students will always find a way to communicate with one another, whether it be note passing or text messaging. It is our responsibility, as educators, to make sure these things do not occur in the classroom. Every generation seems to develop its own defining characteristics, and we must embrace these changes not suppress them.
As Tara pointed out, we are living in “a post-Columbine world.” A world where college campuses are being put on lock down, and a world that is increasingly dangerous. We should not be so naïve and unchanging; we need to understand the fact that this world is different from the world we grew up in. In this increasingly hostile world, parents should have the right to contact their children as they see fit.
32 responses so far ↓
dwest02 // March 11, 2008 at 2:59 am |
I agree with Tara’s comment that we live in a “Post-Columbine” society. I have to say that a student having to stay in touch with their parents is a priority but as a future teacher, I feel that once inside of the perimeter of the school, the cell phone should be left in the locker or in a designated area that students can leave thier phones under the supervision of a school official that way there are no distractions in the classroom but are able to check it during the day
monique2 // March 11, 2008 at 7:17 pm |
I don’t think cellphones should be on in the classroom. It is disrespectful to learning. Yes, I feel students should have them durning their free time but not during class time. It’s just another way for students to become disenaged to what going on around them. There is a time and place for everything. Technically the cell phone is the students property. I just feel that a respect for learning should be fostered. Class time= no cellphone. Nonclass time= cell phone time. I realy can she the use and convience of it all. Just use it at the appropriate time. I mean we can’t have cellphones on , on the plane for a reason. We don’t keep our cellphones on in the movie theater for a reason. School, classroom, and learning deserves that same consideration.
mmazza1 // March 11, 2008 at 7:32 pm |
I think that in respects to safety, cell phones are very useful for children to have in school. I think that if students do have cell phones they should be kept in their schoolbags and turned off. I currently work in an elementary school and after work i see fourth and fifth grades pulling out their cell phones. I think it is ridiculous, i mean who could they actually be calling? They are with their friends all day long who do they desperately need to speak to the second they get out of school?
marni123 // March 11, 2008 at 9:30 pm |
Cell phones should not be permitted in the classroom. Children can leave them on vibrate in their lockers and check them during free time. As a parent I know that I can contact my child at any time through the “main office” at school and the school will contact me in the event of any emergency involving my child.
Cell phone use is a disruption to all classrooms. Teachers already have their hands full trying to control, manage and discipline their students.Cell phones have no place in the classroom. The 1980’s equivalent would be like having twenty telephone booths in the class!
kelly7 // March 12, 2008 at 2:52 am |
I believe in our world today with all the terrible things occuring at schools that children should be allowed to have their cell phones at school. I believe during a lesson the cell phone should be put in their backpacks, and away from their view but the teacher should also allow certain times throughout the day for the student to check their cell phones. If something is terribly urgent the parent can always call the school. As for older students in college I believe that it’s their choice to be mature, and know better not to disrupt the class with cell phones ringing, and texting happening. They should also know when the right times are to take a look at their cell phones. Overall I think cell phones have become an important item to have for safety, and communicating.
lisadicker // March 12, 2008 at 3:30 am |
I didn’t get my first cell phone until right before my first year of college. And you know what?? I can’t remember what it was like to not have a cell phone! I mean I think just having it gives me a sense of security. I know that in an emergency I can reach anyone I need to (except when I don’t have service haha). Cell phones have permeated our society. Who knows what we’ll have in a few decades! I think cell phones are an amazing creation.
With that being said, I do feel that there is a time and a place for cell phone use. And school is not one of them! Cell phones can be distracting and disruptive in a classroom. I agree that children who have cell phones should be required to leave them in their backbacks during school time.
caitlin47 // March 13, 2008 at 6:36 pm |
Living in a “post-Columbine” world raises a lot of concerns, even more so for parents I’m sure. While cell-phones can be a distraction, I am against banning them from schools on the basis of safety. Many schools today have a system set up where students receive emergency text messages that warn them of danger on campus, such as in the case of a shooting. Personally, I was relieved to have had my cell phone with me back in high school on 9/11 because I was able to contact my family and friends to ensure they were safe. I don’t think we should allow students to abuse their right to have a cell phone in school, but because of the new dangers our society has recently faced I think it is imperitive that students be allowed to have their cell phones with them at all times, except maybe during testing. If it wasn’t for the use of cell phones, anytime there is a crisis there is the potential for a panic because people will be desperate to find their loved one. Cell phones reduce the possibility of a serious panic and can also be used to warn and protect students against danger on campus.
dnice78 // March 14, 2008 at 8:33 pm |
Wow, I have no idea what the solution is. As an educator I can attest to cell phones being on in the classroom. Honestly, I never ask my students to put their cell phones away. I agree that it is a distraction but it is also their property. Unfortunately, I do believe it is up to the teachers to control what happens in their rooms. Classroom management is important and students who are challenged and engaged won’t be as distracted as students who are not. Even with their cell phone on their desk, a good lesson or interesting material can help alleviate cell phones being a distraction.
queens6 // March 16, 2008 at 12:37 pm |
The article was interesting and insightful.The cell phone problem is a complex issue for any school system. If schools ban them, parents and students would become outraged. If they keep them, teachers have to deal with studenst being easily distracted. The best plan would be to ban phones in the classroom and only allow them to be used in emergencies only. The issue is new so schools dont really know what to do yet. However, schools will have to figure out the best course to go in the future.
nyteachers // March 16, 2008 at 3:00 pm |
In such situations, I always ask myself what happens in adult situations. In a professional setting such as a meeting, everyone has an understanding that we have to turn off the cell-phone. And if someone’s phone rings accidentally, everyone know that they are supposed to turn it off immediately and usually the person with the ringing cell phone will feel terribly embarrassed.
Like for all other classroom rules, the rules for cellphone use should be discussed right at the beginning of the semester with students, and collectively, the whole class comes up with a workable solution, including penalties if students or teachers abuse their rights to cell phone use by playing video games in the classroom, or chatting on the phone in the classroom. I believe that if we respect students like we respect other adults, they will fill that role and respond accordingly.
mindy1 // March 18, 2008 at 7:16 pm |
I believe that schools should set rules for cell phone use. I know that the district I work in cell phones are not permitted to be used inside the building during the day. If a student has to make a phone call they must use their cell phone outside during lunch or use a phone that is made available to them. If a student is caught using their cell phone it is taken away from them and their parents must come in to retrieve it.
lsichel // March 19, 2008 at 5:59 pm |
I agree with the fact that children have cell phones and they have every right to have them no matter where they are. I do also see that it is a distraction to other children and teachers when cell phones ring, beep or children are simply not focusing on the lesson but they are deeply focused on what to write in a text message. Somehow parents, children, and teachers all need to come to an agreement. Maybe if teachers express an understanding of why children may “need” to have cell phones rather then finding fault with the students. I know that if a teacher said to me ” I understand” rather then “Get that out of my classroom” I would respect their wishes.
ellieboyle // March 19, 2008 at 9:58 pm |
I think the simple solution is keep your cell phone in your locker. They should not be allowed in the classroom. Students forget to shut them off and its a distraction or they text message while their supposed to be learning. I know as an adult I can’t help but text if something funny happens in class or answer a text if I get one….and certainly I must have more self discipline than a sixth grader.
paulschropfer2 // March 20, 2008 at 2:13 am |
This is a real good article. As a future teacher and as a future parent (maybe one day) i agree with both sides. As a teacher I feel that the kids are distracted by their cell phones by talking, texting, playing games or listening to music. I see kids inside and outside of the school using their cells but what blows my mind is who are these 12 year old kids texting or calling when all their friends are in their school or another? As a future parent I want my kids to have cell phones at all times. In todays world alot of tragedies can be avoided by having a cell phone. It seems like some moron goes into a school every year and a shooting occurs. I can not even imagine being a parent and not being able to communicate with my kid if something bad happens. It can also resolve alot of everyday issues for parents like picking up there kids and communicating short quick messages. We just have to find an equal medium of having the cell phone for emergiences and not playing with them so they become distracting.
pamela11050 // March 20, 2008 at 2:27 pm |
I think that cell phones when used appropriatley in this day an age can be helpful. The question is how can we monitor the students use of the phone while in school so it does not interfere with their education. I think that while in school phones must be turned off and only be used after school hours while the students are walking or taking the bus home. It is a great device incase of an emergency and in some cases may save a life. I see more today then ever students taking advantage of their cell phone so I think that with proper education on what and when it should be used for might be helpful but it will not solve all problems.
kerriesr // March 20, 2008 at 6:58 pm |
Out of respect for learning and the classroom I think that cell phones should be kept off or at least on silent in the classroom. I do think that children, especially in high school should be able to keep them in their pockets. If something was to happen, it is good to have with you. In terms of cheating though, kids have always cheated. Teachers just need to be vigilant. I think it should actually be easier to moniter than notes on hands or a piece of paper in the pocket. If it is really a problem in a classroom and a teacher is vehemently opposed to cell phones, maybe they could collect them in a basket at the beginning of class and give them back out at the end.
lobell3c // March 21, 2008 at 7:12 pm |
I agree that cell phones are a huge distraction, especially when trying to conduct a lesson in the classroom. I think it is a huge interference, and can become a problem when a teacher is trying to do a lesson and all they see are the students playing games or texting others. I think students as well as adults need to realize when it is appropriate to have your scell phones on and when it should not be on. I think that once you enter a school, all cell phones should be set to a vibrate mode in case of emergencies. I do not agree with shutting off cell phones because of emergencies that occur that we do not expect, and I am a firm believer that you need to always be excessible if need be, but I do think that there needs to be a line drawn for when they should be used, how they are being used and for what purpose are the being used for expecially in the classroom. Cell phones have become a huge way of communicating expecially through texting, and this can create a bigger problem when there is a test, students can cheat by using their cell phones, which is definitely not good. I don’t think there will ever be a way we can control the cell phone use, we can just hope that students use them wisely, they respect the rules and abide by them. I do not feel the need to take them away, they just need to be used properly.
karenbavaro // March 22, 2008 at 1:08 am |
I agree that cell phones should not be used in the classroom. That rule should not only apply to students but to teachers as well. One teacher I observed took a personal call right in the middle of a lesson. The classroom, I believe, should be a place that is interruption free as much as possible. I do agree however, that students should be able to have their cell phones in school but turned off during classroom time. I know that as a parent I feel much more at ease knowing that my kids can get in touch with me in case of an emergency. They have used their cell phones to let me know that their bus broke down on 2 separate occasions, that they had to stay after school for a club meeting and they’ve called to let me know that a meeting was cancelled and I needed to come and get them. There are so many things that can come up that they might need their phones for from emergencies to just changes in plans that I need to be aware of. I think that like adults, kids understand that the classroom isn’t the place to use a cell phone if they don’t understand this it must be explained to them and rules regarding their use must be clear. If you give your students respect you’ll usually get respect.
jamie941 // March 22, 2008 at 7:01 pm |
As a parent, I want my children to have their cell phone accessible to them at all times. I don’t expect them to have them on in class (they have been warned about this!) but I do want them to have them in case of emergency. Call me paranoid but with the number of threats made recently it is a valid concern. Leaving their cell phones in a locker renders them useless in a bad situation. There need to be rules set within the school as to appropriate cell phone use and students must be penalized for violating the rules. Students should be taught that cell phone use is restricted to situations which involve their safety.
laur6474 // March 23, 2008 at 4:32 pm |
I feel that cellphones should not be used in the classroom but students need to have them just in case of emergencies. There should be a limit of when students can and can not use their cellphones. They should always be turned off inside the classroom and if they do ring during class, then it should be taken away until the end of the day. I believe that it is up to the teacher to inform their students that cellphones are only used in an emergency and if they are used in the classroom, there will be consequences.
am2springer // March 25, 2008 at 4:27 pm |
Unfortunately, I do not agree with children bringing cell phones to school. My first question is, “What did we do before cell phones existed?” I know that parents always want to be able to reach their children but I think it is more important for parents to be able to speak with their child’s teacher and also the principal to see how their child is doing during the day.
If a child is alone after school then they should be at home and parents need only to call home to find out how their child’s day was.
I don’t believe teachers should have the responsibility to police the child when it come to cell phone use and even though we can ask the child to leave their cell phones in their bag when at school I am under the impression that most children would take them out at some point during the day.
Of course parents need to know where their child is at all times. Wherever the child is there should be a phone and we should be able to speak with them using landline.
kdaly01 // March 26, 2008 at 2:28 pm |
Cell phones should not be allowed in the classroom. Period, the end. If parents feel that their child should be reachable via cell phone, they can contact them through the school secretary. We all were able to survive without cell phones several years ago so I think we can do it for the few hours that we are at school. If the child wants to bring their cell phone to school and keep it turned off in their backpack, then fine. But the cell phones should not be used at all during the school day. If a child needs to get in touch with their parents after school, for example, if the child has sports activities, or if the child is going to a friend’s house, I understand the logic behind bringing a cell phone to school.
-Karyn Daly EDI 677
royconde1 // March 27, 2008 at 3:26 pm |
I agree that cell phones are part of our society, but in a classroom they have no business being seen or used. Students have said they were looking at the time, when there is a perfectly good clock on the wall. All they do present in the classroom is a complete distraction since they are more of an accessory than a necessity. I understand with emergencies and all, but that does not give the right of students to have them out or on them at all times.
footballcoach84 // April 5, 2008 at 11:06 pm |
Last week I caught a student talking to his mom from a stall in a bathroom!! I confronted him and asked him why he was using his phone and he told me that he needed to call his mom. I said that is what the phones in the office are for. This is ridiculous, I can understand when parents say they need to contact their child and make sure that they are ok but you dont need to call your child during class and when they are in school it should be in their locker. And we all know having a cell phone in your pocket is very tempting in class. Cell phones do not belong in the classroom because every teacher has one and there are many ways to reach your child THEY DONT NEED A PHONE ON THEM DURING SCHOOL. But in the same respect teachers should not answer their phones during class and the phones should be on vibrate. I think its very hypocritical when they answer their phones during class. It sends the wrong message to students.
kmaldon // April 6, 2008 at 11:08 pm |
I believe that children should have cell phones so that in case of an emergency they can reach someone or be reached but as soon as they step onto school premesis the phone should be either turned off or loeft in a locker. There is no doubt in my mind that when a child is bored he or she will go and text there friends or even talk on AIM. If there was an emergency while the child was in school and a parent had to reach him or her, they can simply call the school and speak to someone there.
kfabian3599 // April 7, 2008 at 2:06 pm |
It is definitely convenient for kids to have cell phones in today’s world but I feel they should be left in the locker and used during free time. As someone else stated, if a parent needs to contact their child they can call the main office in an emergency. Cell phones in the classroom are a distraction to the student and teacher. It is weird to think that when I was in High School not many people had cell phones and everyone got in touch with people when they needed to. I don’t think many people feel as safe in school as they used to after Columbine and there should be safety precautions in every school but I don’t think cell phones are needed in the classroom.
pjswim // April 12, 2008 at 2:14 am |
Personally I have very mixed emotions about the usage of cell phones in school. I managed to go through high school and up until my sophomore year of college before I ever bothered to get a cell phone. On the off chance there was an emergency someone was always able to find me [granted my parents would have to call my friends on their cell phones to track me down but it was possible]. But I can also understand parents concerns about wanting to be able to keep in touch with there children in case an emergency should arise and if there was an emergency a cell phone stored in a locker really would not help all that much. Teachers need to set forth ground rules at the beginning of the year in a high school setting why not let the students leave there phones on vibrate on the corner of their desk. This way it will be harder for them to text as your more likely to notice and if the phone is to go off the student will be embarrassed as it will be in view of the entire class. Eventually the students will stop receiving calls and texts during class unless it is an emergency situation. Also why not have teachers treat text messages the same way that they used to treat passing notes make the student stand up and read it to everyone after awhile the novelty of it all will ware off and it can become less of a distraction.
russmitchin // April 28, 2008 at 8:12 pm |
I found this a very interesting article. Cell phones are a major part of everyone’s life today. I will flat out admit that I cannot live without my phone. It is my lifeline, my phone book, my watch, my alarm clock and it serves many other purposes. I do not however believe that they should be permitted in a classroom setting. They are far to distracting to aloud in a classroom and is this article points out they have even been linked to cheating.
I agree that in this post- Columbine world it is vital for parents to have quick and easy contact with their children, and that it really is a parents dream come true. The fact is that except for an emergency situation is their really a need for a parent to talk to their child during the day? The last thing that we as teachers need is our students constantly checking their phones, texting friends or playing games. They came to school to learn after all, not play on their phones.
kokogi // May 1, 2008 at 7:37 pm |
I always think the use of cellphone in the classroom should be strickly banned. As the article mentioned, the use of cellphone during class would distract students’ attention and even give them the chance to cheat on the test. The influence of use of cellphone is not only on students, many adults also lack sense to use cellphone appropriately. Last time I went to a high school for observation and the teachers told me that I can’t use cellphone even I’m out of the classroom. I am not sure if this also happened in the rest of the schools in America, this can be strict, but it is necessary for everyone.
lfarrell // May 5, 2008 at 12:50 am |
I can understand the need for a parent to be able to reach their child in the middle of the day. I also think that this need can be respected by having children keep their cellphones in their lockers during class time. This way classtime is not disrupted, and students can check their phones during class breaks. I absolutely think that cellphone are interfering with learning, and I can only imagine how distracting it is to the teacher who is trying to give a lesson.
andytaozhixi // May 5, 2008 at 7:50 pm |
I agree that students should have cell phones in case of emergency they can get help. But I saw most of students who have cell pones are sending short messages, listening to the pop music or watching movies. I think emergency is just an excuse for those students who want to get a cell phone. I think cell phone are banned completely may be not appropriate, but they must be power off during the class.
shannon1031 // November 4, 2009 at 5:56 pm |
Cell phones should be permitted in the school absolutely, however they should be prohibited while inside the classroom. I think that if they weer kept maybe in their desk, bag, or somewher where they are out of the way then it’s alright.
It is an important tool for the kids of todays society to be able to be reached while in the confines of a school, and they should also just learn to use it with respect to the teacher of the class.
In some situations, I’ve witnessed school districts totally ban cell phones from even getting into the school. This is unfair, as many parents work and in some cases the student just needs to have a cell phone for other reasons as well.
The school should also raelize that in using this as a tool, the students can also use it as means to cheat- thus being turned off in the classroom or given to the teacher is a good idae. That way, if an emergency happens to occur, the student is reachable but the phone is far enough away that they wont be distracted.
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