should students be allowed to use cellphones in school essay

• Entertainment
• Environment
• Information Science and Technology
• Social Issues

Home Essay Samples Information Science and Technology Cell Phones

Cell Phones Should Be Allowed in School: An Argumentative Perspective

Table of contents, enhancing learning through technology integration, promoting effective communication and collaboration, preparing students for the digital age, fostering individual responsibility and autonomy, addressing concerns and implementing guidelines.

*minimum deadline

Cite this Essay

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below

• Children and Technology
• Network Security
• 3D Printing
• Advantages of Technology

Related Essays

Need writing help?

You can always rely on us no matter what type of paper you need

*No hidden charges

100% Unique Essays

Absolutely Confidential

Money Back Guarantee

By clicking “Send Essay”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement. We will occasionally send you account related emails

You can also get a UNIQUE essay on this or any other topic

Thank you! We’ll contact you as soon as possible.

Featured Topics

Featured series.

A series of random questions answered by Harvard experts.

Explore the Gazette

Read the latest.

The urgent message coming from boys

Your kid can’t name three branches of government? He’s not alone. 

‘We have the most motivated people, the best athletes. How far can we take this?’

Do phones belong in schools.

iStock by Getty Images

Harvard Staff Writer

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.”

Share this article

You might like.

The urgent message of ‘Rebels with a Cause’? When we don’t listen, we all suffer.

Efforts launched to turn around plummeting student scores in U.S. history, civics, amid declining citizen engagement across nation

Six members of Team USA train at Newell Boat House for 2024 Paralympics in Paris

Good genes are nice, but joy is better

Harvard study, almost 80 years old, has proved that embracing community helps us live longer, and be happier

Examining new weight-loss drugs, pediatric bariatric patients

Researcher says study found variation in practices, discusses safety concerns overall for younger users

Shingles may increase risk of cognitive decline

Availability of vaccine offers opportunity to reduce burden of shingles and possible dementia

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

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!

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

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

Cell Phones in School — Teachers’ Thoughts

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.

1. Providing an Additional Tool for Learning

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

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

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

5. can save schools money.

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

7. prepares students for the future, 8. can create digitally responsible citizens, 9. can help students when studying.

“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

10. Accessibility and Personalized Learning

11. boosts creativity and innovation, 7 ideas how cell phones can be used effectively in the classroom, 1. scanning qr codes, 2. using educational apps, 3. collaborating on assignment, 4. completing surveys and quizzes, 5. providing feedback to others, 6. augmented reality experiences, 7. recording and editing multimedia projects, digital etiquette for students in the classroom.

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.

Useful Resources

Final thoughts.

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

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!!!

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

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.

Explore Related Topics:

• Smartphones
• Share this story
• 32 Comments Add

Associate Vice President, Executive Editor, Editorial Department Twitter Profile

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

Comments & Discussion

Boston University moderates comments to facilitate an informed, substantive, civil conversation. Abusive, profane, self-promotional, misleading, incoherent or off-topic comments will be rejected. Moderators are staffed during regular business hours (EST) and can only accept comments written in English. Statistics or facts must include a citation or a link to the citation.

There are 32 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’m a teacher. If there’s an event like this, it could be detrimental to the emergency system if too many people are calling. Also, kids don’t have the common sense to turn their ringers off. They go off in my class, more often than they should.. If there’s a shooter in any school, parents are going to be calling their kids. Phones constantly going off could lead a shooter to specific places if they can hear them. I understand the parent’s arguments as to why they want their kids to have their phones, but that very argument could lead to their child being hurt or killed in the scenario mentioned above.

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!

yes i’m am doing the same thing .this helped a lot

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!

This is really reasonable. In my school my friends have cell phones and there is a lot of drama. I am writing a report on this.

This is really good

I’ve taught high school since 1999. Should cell phones be banned? 100% Absolutley. I don’t think twice about it.

Post a comment. Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest from BU Today

Here’s where to find last-minute back-to-school shopping essentials, exploring boston’s cultural and culinary diversity, the six best restaurants near campus to celebrate national eat outside day, looking to purchase, or rent, textbooks here’s what you need to know, to do today: rollerama open skate at kendall common, fysop looks to expand the horizons of incoming first-years, fire program returns to college of engineering, bu names jennifer gunter king first associate university librarian for special collections, bu’s booth theatre helps boston public schools students and grads set the stage for success, to do today: summer exhibitions at isabella stewart gardner museum highlight lgbtqia+ photography, love insects this club’s for you, karen engelbourg, leader of bu’s fundraising efforts and alumni engagement, is stepping down, the terrier bucket list: 15 places you need to visit while living in boston, mechanical vs biomedical engineering: what’s the difference between the majors, chief investment officer lila hunnewell recognized for stewardship of bu’s endowment, 20 questions: can you guess the bu location, to do today: saint anthony’s feast in the north end, to do today: boston landmarks orchestra at the hatch shell, to do today: an evening of silent film with the tanglewood music center at the coolidge corner theatre, young geneiuses: summerlab gives teens a chance to learn about state-of-the-art crispr technology.

ChatGPT for Teachers

Trauma-informed practices in schools, teacher well-being, cultivating diversity, equity, & inclusion, integrating technology in the classroom, social-emotional development, covid-19 resources, invest in resilience: summer toolkit, civics & resilience, all toolkits, degree programs, trauma-informed professional development, teacher licensure & certification, how to become - career information, classroom management, instructional design, lifestyle & self-care, online higher ed teaching, current events, 5 benefits of using cellphones in school: smartphones as learning tools.

Today’s students are digital natives. Nearly three out of four teenagers have access to a smart phone, and so many students take them to school every day . For some teachers, it’s probably more uncommon to see a student without one than with one.

But are cellphones in the classroom a good idea? Do they serve as a valid learning tool or, or are they just another distraction contributing to the social disengagement of children?

We took a look at the arguments for using cellphones in class, along with the number of students with phones and the number of apps available to them.

Smartphone ownership

Cellphones have obviously come a long way since the two-pound, $3,995 Motorola DynaTAC 8000X was first introduced in 1984. Subsequent generations of mobile phones continued to evolve and became more affordable and portable, and now offer so much more value beyond a means to call others.

In the ongoing discussion surrounding the efficacy of digital devices in the classroom, schools must face the fact that smartphones are already being utilized by students of all ages. According to an eMarketer article referencing a February 2016 survey by Flagship Research, “Among the 14- to 18-year-olds polled, 87% said they ‘own and use’ a smartphone—i.e., penetration about a dozen percentage points higher than eMarketer’s figure for 12- to 17-year-olds.”

Clearly, young people are acquiring smartphones at a staggering rate.

App availability

Get this: The  Apple Store  had 800 apps the month of its launch in July 2008. As of January 2017, it had 2.2 million. How many educational apps are there? According to New America , as of June 2015, there were over 80,000 educational apps available in the app store.

From colors to ABCs to “The Little Engine That Could,” what used to be taught through books can now be learned through apps—and that’s just for younger generations. The applications for using smartphones from preschool through college are in place and growing.

Why smartphones should be allowed in school

With the widespread use of smartphones by younger and younger students, what are the practical reasons for allowing smartphones as a learning tool in the classroom? Consider these points:

• Students learn in a way they are comfortable. Smartphones are young-person intuitive. More and more students know how to use them, and they are becoming the most used “tool” by teens.
• Students can get answers quickly. Smartphones provide the ability to get answers really fast. In some situations, a student may not ask for clarification to a question he or she has in an open classroom—because they can use their smartphone to get the answer they’re looking for.
• Audio and video can bring learning to life . Audio and video capabilities of smartphones can put a voice to John F. Kennedy, a dramatic video image to the Hindenburg disaster, and allow students to hear the music of Chopin or Al Jolson. They can even connect students with other students from around the globe and expand their learning world.
• Access to educational apps. Equipping your classroom with handy learning apps takes learning up a notch. There are many educational apps available in a wide range of subjects for all kinds of learners. These game-like exercises encourage playful competition among your students, while enhancing the way they learn new ideas. Plus, students (and you, the teacher) will love the change from regular lecture instruction.
• Smartphones allow for social learning . Smartphones can allow students to work in groups on projects, sharing information and discoveries. They can move toward a common goal, again, in a format they are comfortable using.

How to, not if to, use smartphones

Challenges of leveling the playing field, maintaining proper use and control, and preventing abuse with smartphones are similar to problems faced by teachers in the past. Back then, it was passing a note; today it is texting. Both are fairly avoidable, but it doesn’t mean phones should be banned (paper wasn’t!).

We believe the focus of smartphone use in the classroom should shift from not if they should be used, but how to best use them. While critics will cite the opportunity for cheating, unauthorized socializing, and social isolation issues involved, the fact is students are using smartphones every day, and they are using them to learn. Teachers can be a positive force in helping students use them properly in the classroom.

Our advice: set ground rules for smartphones in your classroom, along with clear expectations of what happens if they’re used inappropriately. Just like with anything else, too much of something can be a bad thing—but just enough, can be perfect for learning in new ways.

Further your knowledge about the digital classroom

Here are more articles to enhance your understanding of how digital devices can affect learning:

• Driven to Distraction: The Device Debate
• Pros and Cons of Allowing Digital Devices in the Classroom
• What is BYOD? And Why Should Teachers Care?

You may also like to read

• Cooperative Learning for Middle School Math Class
• Benefits of Teaching at a Charter School
• 5 Ways to Design a School for Brain-based Learning
• Using Learning Stations in Middle School
• Avoiding Summer Slide: Strategies to Keep Kids Learning While School's Out
• Professional Students: Benefits and Risks of Working While in High School

Categorized as: Tips for Teachers and Classroom Resources

Tagged as: Educational Technology ,  Engaging Activities ,  Pros and Cons

• Online & Campus Doctorate (EdD) in Administra...
• Online Associate's Degree Programs in Educati...
• Online & Campus Bachelor's in Secondary Educa...

Essay on Should Students Be Allowed To Use Cellphones In School

Students are often asked to write an essay on Should Students Be Allowed To Use Cellphones In School in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Should Students Be Allowed To Use Cellphones In School

Cellphones: a boon or a bane in the classroom.

The use of cellphones in schools has been a topic of debate for many years. Some people believe that cellphones are a distraction and should not be allowed in the classroom, while others argue that they can be a valuable tool for learning.

The Case for Cellphones in Schools

Cellphones can be a valuable tool for learning. They can be used to access information, take notes, and collaborate with classmates. They can also be used to create presentations and projects.

The Case against Cellphones in Schools

Cellphones can be a distraction. They can tempt students to text, play games, or surf the internet during class time. They can also be used to cheat on tests or assignments.

So, should cellphones be allowed in schools? There is no easy answer to this question. There are valid arguments to be made on both sides of the issue. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to allow cellphones in schools is a complex one that must be made by each school district.

250 Words Essay on Should Students Be Allowed To Use Cellphones In School

Positive impacts:, negative impacts:.

Distractions posed by cell phones during class hours can affect a student’s attention and focus. With social media, games, and text messages just a tap away, students might find it difficult to resist the temptation to engage in non-educational activities. This can result in poor academic performance and missed learning opportunities.

Cell Phones as Learning Tools:

Integrating cell phones into the educational process can offer various benefits. Teachers can utilize phones as interactive tools to engage students through videos, polls, quizzes, and presentations. This can make lessons more engaging and foster a more dynamic classroom environment, promoting active participation and understanding.

Responsible Use:

With proper guidance and supervision, students can learn to use cell phones responsibly in a school environment. Establishing clear rules, setting boundaries, and educating students on appropriate usage can ensure that cell phones are used for educational purposes rather than distractions. This way, students can reap the benefits of technology while minimizing its negative impacts.

Conclusion:

Allowing students to use cell phones in schools is a complex issue with both potential advantages and disadvantages. It requires a responsible and balanced approach, encouraging appropriate usage while mitigating potential risks. By integrating cell phones into the learning process, schools can harness their potential as educational tools while minimizing distractions and promoting academic achievement. Striking the right balance is crucial to create a learning environment that maximizes the benefits of technology without compromising educational quality.

500 Words Essay on Should Students Be Allowed To Use Cellphones In School

Introduction to cellphones in schools.

In today’s world, almost everyone has a cellphone, including students. Some people think that students should be allowed to use their cellphones in school, while others believe it’s not a good idea. This essay will look at the reasons for and against students using cellphones in school.

Reasons for Allowing Cellphones

Reasons against allowing cellphones.

On the other hand, there are several reasons why cellphones might not be allowed in school. The biggest concern is that they can distract students from their lessons. Instead of paying attention to the teacher, students might text their friends or browse social media. Cellphones can also lead to cheating during tests if students use them to look up answers. Lastly, having cellphones in school can cause social issues, like making some students feel left out if they don’t have the latest phone.

Compromise Solutions

Given the good and bad points, some schools look for middle ground. They might allow students to bring their cellphones but set strict rules on when and how they can be used. For example, cellphones could be allowed during lunch or in between classes but must be turned off or put away during lessons. This way, students can have their phones for safety and learning without letting them get in the way of education.

Teaching Responsibility

In conclusion, whether students should be allowed to use their cellphones in school is a complex issue. There are valid reasons on both sides. Allowing cellphones can offer safety and learning benefits, but it also risks causing distractions and social problems. Perhaps the best approach is a balanced one, where cellphones are allowed under certain conditions and students are taught how to use them wisely. This way, students can enjoy the benefits of technology without letting it get in the way of their education.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

Happy studying!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

14 Should Cellphones Be Allowed in School Pros and Cons

Having a cellphone has become a rite of passage for children today, much like a driver’s license was for a previous generation Many students have free access to the Internet at home. They can use their phones to text and talk with their friends, play games, take pictures, and enjoy all the other elements of smartphone ownership that are available today.

That kind of access in schools may not be beneficial to the student, the teacher, or the learning process. Technology in the classroom may keep students engaged. It may also create a distraction which makes the learning process more difficult.

There are several pros and cons to think about when considering policies that allow cellphones in schools. Here are the key points to consider.

List of the Pros of Allowing Cellphones in Schools

1. It offers parents and students an extra layer of security. In the United States, school violence is an ongoing issue that students face as they get older. In an investigation by The Washington Post, U.S. students have endured an average of 10 school shootings per year since the events that unfolded at Columbine. That means almost 200,000 students have been exposed to gun violence in a place that is supposed to be safe.

It’s not just high schools either. There were 20 elementary-age children killed at Sandy Hook. A cellphone at school allows children to contact emergency services, speak with their parents, and have an extra layer of security during a lockdown drill.

2. It can be used as a research tool. Cellphones offer students access to instant research when they need to learn something new. If a student is curious about a specific subject, they can use their phone to learn more about it. Instead of risking embarrassment by asking for clarification about something they don’t know, students can look up information on their phone to receive an instant answer without interrupting the rest of the class.

3. It provides access to more information. Before cellphones and computers, students were at the mercy of their textbooks and their teachers for the knowledge they would obtain. Thanks to this technology, students now have the ability to access numerous resources that supplement what their teachers and textbooks offer. Cellphones provide access to learn a new language, play a new game, or develop skills they would not normally find accessible in the structure of the traditional classroom environment.

4. It offers access to video learning. Before cellphones, video learning meant a teacher rolling in the television cart, forcing all students to watch it from the vantage point of their desk. With a cellphone, a teacher can have students pull up a specific video to watch on their own. With headphones or earbuds, students can listen to the video without disturbing others. That makes it possible to understand key historical events from a new perspective, without worrying about an unintentional bias from a textbook author.

5. It offers access to learning assistance apps and devices. Listening to music while engaged in school work can enhance a student’s focus. Different types of music create different levels of focus for each student. With their own cellphone, students can listen to their music preference without creating a distraction for everyone else. This also gives students a chance to talk about their musical preferences, create connections with different students, and explore options that may not always be played at home.

6. It creates opportunities for social learning. Social media can have a negative effect on students. It can create all-day exposure to bullying behavior, create feelings of inadequacy, and even inspire isolation. If social learning is properly focused, however, the presence of a cellphone in the classroom can help students engage with others when they may be uncomfortable with extroverted actions. Digital devices, like a cellphone, can create a feeling of separation that can help some students come out of their shell.

List of the Cons of Allowing Cellphones in Schools

1. It may create health issues for some students. There are hyperactivity concerns for students who are frequently exposed to the blue light that cellphones produce on their screens. Even when warm tones are used in a “night shift” setting, there may be behavioral concerns with distraction or a lack of focus with the presence of a cellphone in a classroom setting. If students have screen time at school and at home, they may exceed more than 10 hours of time with an electronic device on a daily basis.

2. It gives students access to inappropriate information. Although President Trump likes to tout the idea of fake news when referencing the media, the Internet is the first source of fake news. Students must be taught how to distinguish between credible sources and non-credible information. With the variety of websites that can be viewed on a mobile device, students may use inappropriate research for their schoolwork. They might use their cellphone to access pornography during the school day. Even if a firewall is in place, students with a cellular connection may be able to get around it to view these types of content.

3. It offers multiple distractions to students. The modern cellphone does more than send a text or make a call. Apps for games, social interactions, and much more can be downloaded to create multiple layers of distraction. If a student is tempted to use their cellphone for pleasure more than for studying while in school, then their focus may be on developing friendship and social connections rather than maintaining good grades.

4. It creates potential safety concerns. According to information released by Safewave, 20% of teenagers in the United States who use the Internet regularly say that they’ve received unwanted sexual solicitation while they’ve been online. Only 1 out of 4 teens say that they told a parent when such a solicitation occurred. With 75% of kids between the ages of 12-17 having access to a cellphone or mobile device, the issue of online child predators must be taken into consideration when discussing the issue of allowing cellphones in schools.

16% of teens have considered meeting someone they’ve only talked to online. 8% have met someone they only knew online. Since teens are willing to meet with strangers, parents and teachers must engage with students frequently if cellphones are permitted.

5. It creates concerns with bullying. Cyberbullying is a major concern for students, especially when cellphones are involved. According to the Cyberbullying Research Center, 33.8% of students reported that they have been cyberbullied at least once in their lives. 22.5% report seeing mean or hurtful comments online in the last 30 days. 20.1% reported seeing rumors about them being posted online. Because a cellphone gives bullies access to someone 24/7, there is no place that can be truly described as safe. For that reason, limiting cellphone access may offer more positives to some students, even if that limits their overall access to information.

6. It provides a disconnect. Is the quality of an online social connection of the same value as a personal connection? Being on a cellphone for an extended time period can create a disconnect for some students from face-to-face social activities, organized sports, and even family interactions. If cellphones are permitted in the classroom, a similar disconnect could occur with the teacher, the administrative staff, and even the subject matter being learned.

7. It creates issues of socioeconomic privilege. As of February 2018, the Pew Research Center reports that 5% of Americans do not own a cellphone of any type. 23% of people who do own a cellphone do not have a smartphone in their home. Rural households have the steepest gap in smartphone ownership. Whereas 83% of urban households own a smartphone, only 65% of rural households own one. That means allowing cellphones in schools could create learning gaps not only in low-income households, but in rural households as well.

8. It could encourage cheating. If answers are only one Google search away, using a cellphone to get around a tough test question becomes a tough temptation to avoid for some students. To avoid this issue, teachers or school districts could require that all cellphones be turned in before a test or have all phones turned off during the test. Students who are prone to cheating would also look for answers in other ways anyway, but the ease of answer access could encourage those who wouldn’t normally cheat to think about it.

Should cellphones be allowed in schools? There are several key pros and cons to consider here. Allowing technology in the classroom has provided many schools with learning improvements. It has also created new temptations for students to avoid doing their work. If students are taught how to be online safely and are shown how to choose a good-quality information resource, then it could be a positive experience for many.

Where Should Students Be Allowed to Use Cellphones? Here’s What Educators Say

• Share article

Corrected : A chart in a previous version of this story contained incorrect percentages for where educators say students should be allowed to use cellphones.

To ban or not to ban? This question has been front and center for many schools recently as they strategize how to address students’ ubiquitous use of cellphones.

With nearly 9 in 10 teens 13 and older possessing a smartphone , these devices have become a major source of distraction and disruption in schools, especially when students’ online arguments spill over into in-school arguments and physical fights.

And many educators and school support staff feel that students’ constant access to social media on their smartphones is harming their mental wellbeing and hurting their ability to learn. Some educators go so far to say that students are addicted to their devices.

Nearly a quarter of teachers, principals, and district leaders think that cellphones should be banned from school grounds, according to a recent nationwide survey conducted in September and October by the EdWeek Research Center.

But, overall, educators are divided on the issue.

“We should be learning to manage cellphones in the classroom. They are here to stay,” one educator said in the survey. “BUT they are the biggest distraction.”

Said another survey respondent: “We recently banned cellphones. Previously, they were allowed during passing time and at lunch. However, they had taken over instructional time. Students would get out their phones without thinking and teachers would have to spend as much time redirecting as they were teaching. That, or have a power struggle over confiscation.”

But schools face headwinds from students and parents—many of whom want to be able to reach their children throughout the day—when they try to restrict students’ access to cellphones during the school day.

And as the charts below show, in many cases there’s a yawning gap between what students are allowed to do and what educators think would be best for schools.

For example, nearly three-quarters of teachers, principals, and district leaders say that high school students in their schools and districts are allowed to use their phones during lunch, but only half believe that should be permitted.

The survey also found that a significantly larger share of teachers are in favor of banning cellphones on campus than district leaders. Principals were more in line with teachers than district leaders on that decision.

The following charts show where students are allowed to use cellphones on campus, where educators think phones should be permitted, and how teachers, principals, and district leaders differ on the issue of an all-out cellphone ban.

Data analysis for this article was provided by the EdWeek Research Center. Learn more about the center’s work.

Sign Up for The Savvy Principal

Edweek top school jobs.

Sign Up & Sign In

Get Started Today!

• Centre Details
• Ask A Question
• Change Location
• Programs & More

Cell Phones In The Classroom: Learning Tool or Distraction

These days, more and more students are bringing cell phones to class. Even elementary school-aged students have cell phones in their pockets and backpacks.

However, the news of Ontario’s decision to ban cell phones in classrooms opens again the debate about whether or not students should have cellphones in school. It also brings up the question of whether it’s possible for technology to exist in the classroom as a learning tool—rather than simply a distraction.

Ontario’s Classroom Cell Phone Ban

Starting in September 2019, cell phones will be banned in Ontario classrooms during instructional time.

The new ban means elementary and secondary school students won’t be able to use their cellphones in the classroom unless it is for educational purposes, medical reasons, or as a support for students with special needs. How the ban is enforced will be up to individual boards and schools.

By banning cellphones, Ontario’s Education Ministry hopes to remove distractions so students can focus on acquiring foundational learning skills they need, including reading, writing and math.

The decision and renewed debate has many teachers and parents left wondering: can cell phones ever really benefit students in class, or are they best left tucked away?

Read on to learn more about the pros and cons of students having cell phones in school.

Cell Phone Use In The Classroom

Students check their phones in the classroom an average of more than 11 times a day. That can add up to a lot of time spent distracted from schoolwork. And when students are distracted, it’s a recipe for extra stress, frustration, and catch-up time for everyone.

With students spending up to 20% of their in-class time texting, emailing, and checking social media, it’s no wonder the debate about cell phones in the classroom is alive and well.

Learn more about the pros and cons of students bringing their cell phones into the classroom.

How Cell Phones Can Be Used Effectively In the Classroom

If properly managed, cell phones can be used as tools to help children learn in the classroom. The following are some of the pros of allowing cell phones in school:

• Using educational learning apps

Cell phones give students access to tools and apps that can help them complete and stay on top of their class work. These tools can also teach students to develop better study habits, like time management and organization skills.

• Incorporating digital platforms into lessons

Using social media can keep students interested in class and encourage them to participate in the discussion. Some teachers create twitter hashtags or message boards students can use during class discussions to share thoughts and ideas. This can be especially helpful for students who might not be comfortable speaking in class.

• Supplementing lessons with digital materials

Teachers can take advantage of cell phones by providing students with resources to find more information about a topic. This can include videos, news stories, online discussion groups, and more. Allowing students to access these resources in class can help encourage participation and discussions.

• Providing easy access to more information

The Drawbacks Of Allowing Cell Phones In Classrooms

While cell phones can be used as learning tools, it is a challenge to make sure students are using them for school-related tasks. A cell phone can easily turn from “classroom learning tool” into “classroom disruption”.

Cons of allowing cell phones in school include:

• Distractions and interruptions

When students use their cell phones to check social media and text their friends in class, it leads to distractions for those students as well as for their peers. This can cause disruptions in class, particularly if the teacher is constantly telling students to turn their devices off.

• Cyberbullying

Cell phones can also lead to increased problems with bullying on the schoolground. Cyberbullying can be harder to see than other forms of bullying, making it difficult for teachers to identify and stop when it is happening.

Cell phones can be a helpful learning tool in class. But they can also be used by students to access information while taking a test, leading to cheating. Even if a student isn’t caught, this can lead to him or her having a poor understanding of the material in the future, and is unfair to students who studied hard to do well.

• Disconnection from face-to-face activities

The Bottom Line: Should Students Have Cell Phones In School?

There’s no easy answer: there are both pros and cons to students having cell phones in school. Although they can be used as a learning tool in the classroom, this only works as long as students use them effectively.

This means for teachers who decide to use cell phones (or any other digital device) as part of their lessons, it’s important to set ground rules and keep a close eye on how they are being used.

Where do you stand on the cell phone debate? Let us know by tweeting @oxfordlearning on Twitter!

Related Resources:

Is Multitasking Bad For Students? How To Study Without Being Distracted

Five Factors That Impact Your Child’s Focus (& How To Recognize Them)

Why so many students hate math (and how to fix it), related attention & focus resources.

Attention & Focus

10 reasons your child can’t concentrate in school (that aren’t add).

Nine Reasons Kids Struggle With Paying Attention in Class

How Tutoring Can Help Students with ADHD

How Tutoring Benefits Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Find an oxford learning ® location near you, we have over 100 centres across canada.

20 Reasons Why Cell Phones Should Be Allowed in School

Technology has become an important part of every classroom—and that’s not a bad thing . When you enter an elementary school classroom in 2022, you’ll likely see kids typing up reports on school laptops, teachers using a projector to show videos, and students studying their textbooks on an iPad. 

So what about phones?

According to NPR , 53% of kids own a cell phone by age 11, with over 84% entering the mobile world by the time they’re a teen. With these statistics, it’s inevitable that many students take phones to school. And while phones can be distracting, they are a valuable educational tool when used correctly. After all, cell phones have a bundle of benefits that help make learning easier, accessible, and entertaining. 

So why should phones be allowed in school? Well, if the easy access to information and utility as a classroom resource don’t convince you, one of these twenty reasons should:

• Educational apps and games make learning fun! Education is exciting. Learning new things should be an enjoyable endeavor for people of all ages, but some kids look at learning as a boring waste of time. Thankfully, there are a plethora of fun apps and games that make learning fun again—and many of these apps are available on Troomi phones! Click here to learn a little more about Troomi’s fun and educational KidSmart® apps, and then click here to see what amazing plans are available.
• Students can access digital learning material on their phones. Resources like news stories, blog posts, and magazine articles are valuable learning materials in the classroom. This is especially the case in history and writing courses, where studying a variety of sources aids in a student’s understanding. 
• Students can access educational videos. Imagine how much stronger learning about Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech would be by hearing the words from the man himself. With a phone, it’s easier than ever to watch educational videos like historic speeches, lectures, and even exciting science experiments. 
• Cell phone e-readers make textbooks more accessible than ever. Textbooks are a necessary part of many classes, but their high cost and heavy weight often gets in the way of educational accessibility. With a phone’s e-reader capability, however, most textbooks are available at the tap of a finger, giving students the information they need to excel in any course they take.
• Making cell phones a classroom resource introduces necessary tech skills early. In today’s world, technological know-how is an absolute must. By introducing cell phones to the classroom, teachers have the ability to help their students learn how to use technology responsibly and appropriately. Start by teaching them some basic tech lingo!
• Educational exposure to phones teaches kids the basics of digital citizenship. Knowing how to work a phone is one thing, but using it appropriately is another. Being a  digital citizen means knowing how to engage with technology in a positive and beneficial way. Digital citizenship skills are absolutely vital in today’s world, and there’s no better place to learn them than in the classroom.
• Quiz games like Kahoot! make phones a participation tool. A ton of my high school and university teachers used online quiz games like Kahoot! to get students interested and engaged in a lesson. Students connect to a teacher’s quiz with their phones, then use their device as a controller to answer questions and test their knowledge.  
• Phones help kids get quick answers to important questions. Oftentimes in a classroom, the teacher doesn’t get the opportunity to answer every student’s question. In this case, a phone can be a great resource!
• Online encyclopedias satisfy a student’s curiosity. Kids are naturally curious people, and a phone provides easy answers to their questions. Do they want to know who fought in the Battle of Waterloo? Or perhaps they’re interested in knowing who first discovered America (hint: it wasn’t Columbus ). Gone are the days of digging through 1,000 page encyclopedias to find the answers. Now all it takes is a few clicks through online resources like Wikipedia and Encyclopedia Britannica .
• Cell phones can be used as calculators. Remember when you weren’t allowed to use a calculator in math class, because the teacher said you wouldn’t have one with you in your everyday life? Well the times have changed; now, we carry a calculator with us all the time! Teaching students to use the calculator on their phones is a valuable skill that will only deepen their grasp of mathematical concepts.
• Students can look up definitions on their phone’s dictionary. The English language is lexically vast, and it’s inevitable that kids will stumble upon words they aren’t familiar with as they practice reading. Most cell phones have a built-in dictionary. All it takes is a few taps (or a question to Siri) to learn what new words mean, how they’re used in a sentence, and if they have any synonyms. 
• Phones help kids learn how to organize . In the twenty-first century, phones are the key to coordination. These little devices are a powerhouse of organization, helping students stay on top of tasks, homework assignments, deadlines, and other projects. These are no longer the days of only paper yearly planners and to-do lists —now, planning can be done digitally on your phone.
• Cell phones feature a built-in timer. Whether your little student is timing their mile in gym class or racing with a friend to complete a math worksheet, timers are an indispensable classroom tool . When I taught first grade, we used timers to help students stay on task. When a student worked hard and focused on one task for 30 minutes, they got a short break before the cycle began again. It worked wonders!
• Kids can check in with parents about the day’s plan. For kids with acute anxiety and ADHD, a routine schedule can mean the difference between chaos and serenity. Of course, kids may forget what that plan is and start feeling anxious as a result. A cell phone makes it easy to refresh their brain and restore composure—all it takes is a text.
• Teachers can send messages to students through Canvas or Google Classroom. Communicating with teachers is easy with online learning platforms like Canvas and Google Classroom. What’s more, both of these apps are available on Troomi phones! 
• Kids can contact parents when there’s an emergency. Life is unpredictable, and it’s impossible to plan for every emergency. In the case of a medical emergency, fire, or natural disaster, phones make it easy for children and teens alike to get in touch with their parents. 
• Parents can contact kids in the case of an emergency. Sometimes the situation is reversed and parents need to get in touch with their kids. Keeping a cell phone on hand makes navigating emergencies less stressful than ever before. In trying times, one little text that reads, “I’m OK,” can work wonders for a parent’s peace of mind.
• Phones make it easy to connect with classmates. And no, we’re not talking about connecting on SnapChat. On the Troomi blog we’ve talked a lot about the dangers and downsides to social media. While we don’t recommend social media , phones can be a valuable tool to connect classroom peers just with a phone call or text!
• Phones teach kids responsibility. In most classrooms, there are consequences that come with using your phone inappropriately during class time. Teaching kids to use their phone responsibly during class is a great way to model responsible phone usage later in life. Eliminating phones from schools entirely robs students of the chance to learn this valuable lesson.
• Phones help kids create memories with friends. Phones have a lot of educational potential, but that’s not all. They’re also an amazing tool when it comes to connection and socializing! Kids can use phones to share music with friends, tell jokes over text, and take pictures of their favorite moments. Allowing phones at school makes these meaningful moments all the more frequent.

As parents, we want to see our children succeed inside and outside of the classroom. By allowing children to use phones as an educational resource (at appropriate times), we encourage them to properly engage with a phone. After all, healthy habits start early , and appropriate phone usage is one of the most important habits to have mastered.

Related Articles

Cell Phones Should Be Allowed in Schools Essay examples

• 5 Works Cited

Picture this, there has been a school lockdown, the suspect cut the landlines so no one could call the police for a rescue. However, the suspect was captured by the police much faster than he imagined. The last scene wouldn’t have happened if it was one decade ago, because cell phones were not popular in schools then. When it comes to cell phones, some people think they should not be permitted in schools, and other people think they should be permitted in schools. I agree with the latter opinion for the following reasons: Cell phones are an efficient way to communicate when emergencies occur in school; cell phones can be a great tool for learning during school hours; and the current prohibitive rules on cell phones are merely fruitless …show more content…

Many people believe that bringing cell phones to school may cause distractions. However, a recent study leads more and more people to believe that mobile phones could in fact be a “powerful learning tool” (Docksai), serving as a mobile computer ("Cell Phones in the Classroom” ). Elizabeth Hartnell- Young, a research fellow from the University of Nottingham tracked 331 students from 14 to 16 years old, for learning through cell phones. They used cell phones to make short videos, set homework reminders, record poems, and transfer files from home to school (Docksai). Students described their learning experience as “motivated” (Docksai). Many experts pointed out that students have a “deep comfort level” with mobile phones (Docksai). In other words, students could learn more if they enjoyed what they were doing. An increasing number of teachers have changed their point of view towards cell phones, many now believe that cell phones would exert positive effects on education. For example, some teachers have already started to collect homework online and answer questions through text- messaging. A school in Saskatchewan encouraged students to read and share thoughts about books through their cell phones (Docksai). Furthermore, according to a recent survey, the majority of students could refrain from using cell phones and not be distracted by them in class. In fact, over 71% of students didn’t

Pros Of Cell Phones At School

The distraction caused by cell phones are different in every classroom, it is the teacher 's job to regulate the cell phone usage to maximize the amount of learning that takes place. This article relates to the opposing side of the argument. The article provides a real-life example and informs the reader in a different method about how cell phones do not belong in schools.

Reasons Why Cell Phones Should Be Allowed In School

Imagine a school in which cell phones were not allowed on campus. How would the children contact their parents in the case of an emergency? Perhaps more importantly, how would this affect a child's ability to learn, and their access to knowledge? In an ever changing world most schools have adapted to use technology to their advantage. Whether this be strict times when cell phones are allowed, or more generalized rules, the schools today are able to shape these new devices in their favor. This movement, however, is looked at by some to be a terrible decision, and a hazard to children's growth in the school environment. This essay will go over the three main reasons why cell phones should be allowed and encouraged inside of the school building. The first reason why schools should allow cell phones is because parents need easy contact with their children in all situations. The second reason to allow cell phones is because they improve the learning environment and provide a digital knowledge database. The final reason to allow phones in a school setting is because they can give schools financial and educational freedom opportunities that were never possible before. Cell phones are amazing tools, and schools have all the power in the world to utilize them to their full potential.

Dbq Essay On Cell Phones In Schools

Although phones may be used to help students with work, North Eugene high school should ban phones because how much of a distraction they can be in a classroom. Schools that have banned phone at school, 82% of students have a phone on at school.(Document #3) If North Eugene at least has a policy with not having students bring the phones in class, that will help with test scores and participation in class. “Students with laptops had a lower test result than those without. The reason? They were not paying attention to their teachers. We should expect the same thing from cell phones.” (Document #6) When using technology at school it may help but there also needs to be an extent to where it needs to stop. Phone are not going to help with our

Essay on Legal and Ethical Implications for Classroom Management

The next topic of discussion is cell phones in classrooms. The article being summarized is entitled The Only Thing We Have to Fear is…120 Characters. In this article, Kevin Thomas and Christy McGee (2012) make arguments for the use of cellphones in classrooms in spite of the fact that 69% have banned them. This paper responds to the many reasons for disallowing their use, and then it goes on to highlight some ideas about why cell phones should be used as educational tools. Both sides of the discussion certainly make valid points.

Essay on Cell Phone Use in Schools Should Not be Banned

Should students be able to use cell phones during class periods? This is a question a lot of students and parents have asked themselves. The invention of cell phones started a debate for many schools. Many schools accept the use of cell phones but experience a lot of frustration over them. There are many reasons for and against the use of cell phones in schools. People who support cell phone use in schools are usually teenagers. People who disagree with cell phone use in schools are usually teachers or parents, who think cell phones are a distraction. A lot of students see cell phones as a useful device but many see them as a distraction during class. Throughout this essay you'll read about the pros and cons regarding cell phones

Cell Phones in the Classroom: Keep Them Banned, or Incorporate Them?

• 3 Works Cited

Cell phones are quickly becoming a child and teenager’s new best friend. In fact, they even seem to be replacing human contact, and are now how both children and teenagers communicate with each other. Cell phone sales have sky rocketed at an alarming rate, and many of the consumers are under the age of 18, meaning they are still in elementary and high school. Society has influenced students to feel that they need to own a cell phone to be “cool”, thus making the issue of cell phones in the classroom society context vs. students (area 13). Cell phones have now begun to be a large distraction in the classroom, and are the newest item that many schools have had to implement a policy for; many of these policies simply ban the use of cell

Summary Of The Use Of Mobile Devices In The College Classroom

In Tamara Brenner’s article, “The Use of Mobile Devices in the College Classroom”, she stresses that the use of cell phones is distracting in a college classroom setting. This article was published by the Bok Center by Harvard University. Brenner has a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology, and taught undergraduate life science classes at Harvard. Today’s day and age is almost completely dependent on technology. Teenagers and students today have a completely new problem to deal with as far as how to balance cell phone time and lecture time in classrooms. Anybody in a college classroom setting should pay attention to what is in this article, especially students and teachers. Brenner uses strong studies and research papers to inform the reader about the issue as well as looks at all sides of the argument on how distracting mobile devices are in the college classroom.

Cell Phones in School

Have you ever heard of the gruesome Columbine High School massacre? This incident occurred on April 20th 1999 and involved two students embarking on a shooting rampage, killing twelve students, a teacher and wounding twenty three others. Unfortunately during this incident, the school 's most easily accessible phone was on the complete other side of the school in the library. Perhaps some of these lives could have been saved if the students in this class had cell phones that they could 've used to contact the authorities more quickly. The issue we are addressing today is the usage of cellular devices in educational facilities. Both Cameron and myself believe that cell phone usage is of extreme convenience, and has academically beneficial

Cell Phones Banned at School Essay

People all around the world have many electronic devices, and there are abundant amounts of freedom that come with them. There are so many different technologies to choose from, but one that seems to be quite common among people of all ages, are cell phones. Such technology is great for many uses, but it is not always appropriate in certain settings. The principal at my school has adopted a new policy that bans the use of cell phones during school hours. I support my principal’s decision. Cell phones can be distractions in many ways to students during school. They can cause conflicts between fellow students and between students and teachers. Allowing cell phones during school hours also basically gives students permission to not pay

Persuasive Essay On Phones In School

Such as, if something bad has happened to a family member or an update on how grandma is doing in the hospital. Having a phone for instant communication will save children the hassle of not having to leave class to go down to the office to receive information from their parents. Not only can emergencies happen at home, but also at school. “ Schools get closed for various reasons, sometimes they’re natural disasters, or gun shootings which have actually become so common in most American schools” (Cell Phones Allowed In School). It can be a scary time if one is on a lockdown or an evacuation. Parents will be worried and want their child to keep them posted. Also, it is important text friends to make sure they are “okay” during this time if one cannot find them. Another emergency that may happen is if one needs to react quickly to an emergency in the classroom like calling 911. Aside from those types of emergencies, students may lie to their parents about where they are. In this case, Parents can use the Footprint App to track their children's locations, to know if they are at school or not. Next, athletes are constantly wondering what time their practice is at. Coaches are changing times and what days they practice, and this way if a practice time is changed or canceled, the coach can send the team a text. Texting needs to be kept to a minimum on phones, but it is necessary at certain times.

Why Cell Phones Should be Banned in Schools

• 1 Works Cited

It cell phones can be a huge threat to school and everyone in it by being used as a bomb or a

Essay on Banning Cell Phones in School

Many places in society are setting policies on digital device. The principal at my school has also set policies on banning cell phones in school. Students should not be permitted to use cell phones in school. Using cell phones during school allows students to cheat. Students will be more distracted by cell phones and pay less attention to the teacher and to the lesson. Students have a higher chance of getting in trouble if they use cell phones in school rather than if they are not allowed to use digital devices in school.

Cell Phones In School Essay

Many teachers believe that cell phones don’t belong in a classroom because there are several disadvantages. An example maybe a student who uses a cell phone in class has no intension in listening or paying attention to the teacher. This student has a short attention span who cares about socializing more than his/her education. Cell phones can be very disruptive; they can invade people’s privacy and can also be used as harassment or bullying. The usage of cell phones is creating a huge problem particularly when they are used in school.

Essay on should students be allowed to use cell phones in school

Cell Phones: Many American youth now have cell phones that they carry with them everywhere .Should cell phones be allowed at school ?Many teachers and students claim that phones are distracting while many parents and students insist that phones are necessary. Write a persuasive essay explaining your position on the issue.

Should Mobile Phones be Banned in Schools? Essay

• 2 Works Cited

With the blooming development of science and technology, mobile phones have become an indispensable part of life. The increasing number of teenagers who use a cell phone in schools which disrupts classrooms orders has become a major concern. However, mobile phones should not be banned in schools. Actually, it is not necessary to ban mobile phones in schools. Additionally, using mobile phones in schools has some positive influences. Furthermore, it is likewise a human right for students.

Essay Service Examples Technology Cell Phones

Should Students Be Allowed to Use Cellphones in School Essay

Table of contents

Introduction to cellphone usage in schools, evolution of cellphone perception and accessibility, debate on cellphone distractions and academic impact, integrating cellphones for enhanced learning, benefits of cellphone usage in classroom engagement, challenges and considerations for inclusive cellphone policies.

• Proper editing and formatting
• Free revision, title page, and bibliography
• Flexible prices and money-back guarantee

Our writers will provide you with an essay sample written from scratch: any topic, any deadline, any instructions.

Cite this paper

Related essay topics.

Get your paper done in as fast as 3 hours, 24/7.

Related articles

Most popular essays

• Cell Phones
• Effects of Technology
• Perspective

The prominent areas, where impact of cell phones is obvious include business, education, health,...

• Public School

Learning can be done in several different ways, methods, and procedures. As what Marvin Minsky, an...

Do you know when is a good age to start having a cell phone? According to the latest research, on...

• Dependence on Technology

It is my belief that cell phones are crippling and incapacitating the majority of our youth. The...

• Children and Technology

Would you let your elementary-aged child run free in a busy mall? Are you certain? More parents...

Most teenagers are obsessed with their cellular phones and as time passes the number of teenagers...

• Rogerian Argument

Is one of the world’s most profound inventions becoming an issue? In today’s day in age cell...

In recent decades, digital technology has developed at an exponential speed, computers have...

A cell phone is a phone with a touch screen, which allows the user to connect to the Internet,...

Join our 150k of happy users

• Get original paper written according to your instructions
• Save time for what matters most

Fair Use Policy

EduBirdie considers academic integrity to be the essential part of the learning process and does not support any violation of the academic standards. Should you have any questions regarding our Fair Use Policy or become aware of any violations, please do not hesitate to contact us via [email protected].

We are here 24/7 to write your paper in as fast as 3 hours.

Provide your email, and we'll send you this sample!

By providing your email, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy .

Say goodbye to copy-pasting!

Get custom-crafted papers for you.

Enter your email, and we'll promptly send you the full essay. No need to copy piece by piece. It's in your inbox!

Persuasive Essay: Why Should School Phones Used In School?

Phones, are one of the most addictive things in our lives. We carry them with us everywhere. But, for 6 to 7 hours we need to put the phone down for a power nap. These many hours are spent and school where we sit through classes, dazing out the window. Then a bell rings and it is a lock down and it is not a drill. This is an emergency! The popularity of phones has been debated on if they should be permitted to be carried at school. Students should be allowed to carry phones in school because of safety reasons, a useful tool, and an emergency. The first reason why phones should be allowed to be carried is for emergency purposes. If there's a fire, shooting, lockdown, bomb threat, you want to ensure your safety by calling 911 or even your parents. Most of the times these are just drills, but what if one day it is not. Also if your parents need to contact you. Like for example, if there is a death in your family and then need to reach you quickly, then that phone will be a big help. Another emergency, that can happen that you would need your phone, is that if your at school and you are ready for any kind of sports practice and suddenly it is cancelled, and you find out before school ends, and you need to contact your parent. …show more content…

One safety reason is that if you are sick. If you are sick and you walk to the Nurse's Office to see that she is on her lunch break what are you going to do? Well, if you have your phone with you, you can call one of your parents to come and pick you up. Also, if you get hurt the teacher can call the office, but what if it is the teacher is hurt, then you will have to call someone, with your phone that you would be carrying, if permitted. Most kids just keep their phones in their lockers and powered down. To keep everyone safe, though they should be allowed to have them during class because what if one of these things happens, you always have to come

Essay On Why Kids Should Have Cell Phones In School

Because of the things that helps us through everyday life and school. Not only is it good for school but it can be good for other things too. Like emergencies, and being safe when parents put Monitors on our phones, just so that we can protected by our parents everywhere we go. Although cell phones are used for other things the most important thing is the internet, emergencies, and calling our parents for when we need to be picked up at school or when we forget something that we need to bring to school. So that was my reasoning on why kids should have and use cellphones in

Kids Should Have Phones In Middle School

Some of the activities include sports. Sports are great for kids, but sometimes they can be canceled or cut short, and that's why they should have a phone to tell someone. One other thing is that in emergency situations they can tell you if they are okay. Depending on where you live storms can be a problem at school and your kid should

Should Schools Be Able To Take Away A Student's Belongings?

If we get ours taken away, they should too, there is no point in doing that, it seems ridiculous right? Teachers get to have theirs because their older but is that fair we have as much right as them so why can’t we have ours on us and check them at times it’s just not fair. If this is a rule at school, then everyone should have to follow them.

Cell Phones Should Be Allowed In School

So many things happen in our school environment like threats and school shootings. In the article 7 Reasons Why Students Should Be Allowed To Use Cell Phones in School the writer Joe Mecca states “In more serious emergencies, like a school threat or shooting, cell phones could help students connect with worried parents.” This is why we should be able to carry cell phones around because there have been many school shootings and

Cell Phones Should Be Banned In School Essay

Cell phones are very addictive to almost everyone. Imagine this: you are a student in class doing social studies. On one side of you is your work, that needs to be done by the end of class. On the other side of you is your cell phone, blowing up with texts from your best friend. So what would you do?

Why Cell Phones Should Be Allowed In School

Phones should be allowed for use during school Cell phones aren 't only used for being on social media and distracting kids, nowadays, there are many other benefits when it comes to use of electronics. Cell phones should be allowed in school not only because a study shows it makes students happy, according to a study conducted in 2005, Sonja Lyubomirsky, Laura King, and Ed Diener found that happiness causes success, but also as an aid, in case of an emergency, and for easier communication skills. To start off with, phones can be used as an aid. Whether that is learning or memory aid.

Cell Phones Should Not Be Allowed In School

Many things don’t go vigorous or as planned because phones constantly go off during class. Another reason, phones should be prohibited at school is that they are extremely harmful and dangerous. The Environmental Protection Agency says, “... Can be disguised as a gun and used to look up harmful websites.’’ This leads to a

Persuasive Essay: How Are Smartphones Affect Our Lives

Especially when someone is trying to get school work done, if they start using their phone, then it takes them so much longer to get that work done than if they had just put the phone down and do it. Smartphones are too much of a distraction to people, and it is sometimes hard to put them down. People nowadays rely so much on their smartphones and it is not okay. For example, for directions they just use the navigation map on ones phone instead of knowing how to get there by looking at directions.

Persuasive Essay On Cell Phones

This addiction to cell phones has led me to the following question: is it even possible to live without phones anymore? In order to find the answer to this “seemingly impossible” question, I decided to face the treacherous challenge myself so you don’t have to. I’ve challenged myself to use my phone as little as possible for the next three weeks. For this challenge, I’m only allowed to use my phone for essential tasks, such as calling my parents or checking the time. I’ve also allowed

Persuasive Essay About Cell Phones

Cell Phones Have you ever wondered why your parents would not get you a phone?. In Today’s technologically advanced world, it is pretty common that you have at least one or two connections between technology. However, most parents disagree assuming that technology is hurting the teen’s Childhood. Nevertheless, having a cell phone is a necessity in today’s modernized world. Some of the reasons are practicality, GPS tracking for parents to know where their kids are, and safety.

Use Of Mobile Phone In School

Argumentative topics : school children should be allowed to bring mobile phone to schools 1. Introduction A. Hook/Attention getter: As the time flies, technology play the main role in our life, where the world is getting smaller, mobile phone is on everybody’s lip more than MacDonald and Kentucky’s Fried Chicken. Mobile phone becomes indispensable gadget, an absolute necessity for both adult and children. Aware of the essential of mobile phone in life, people starts question whether it should be allowed in school or not and this issue has been hotly debated over the year.

Argumentative Essay On Cell Phones

Cell Phones: The average teenager who gets on their phone, just for a second, each hour has the same mind as a 30 year old cocaine addict. Teens have their minds tricked into thinking they can’t live without their cell phones and social media. Teens need to be able to talk to and connect with others and learn face-to-face communication skills. Nowadays teens can get harmed very easily, and teens do not really know who is on the other side of the screen. Studies have shown that phones can ruin lives with the blink of an eye.

Arguments Against Using Cell Phones In Schools

Allowing cell phones in school is a danger to the education of students (Clark,A.,2006). Banning cell phones is in the best interest of everyone; it will help student’s grades. So, schools make rules to facilitate a quality education in a respectful and safe environment. Cell phones have definitely become fixtures in present-day life for most people. Phones

Essay On Importance Of Mobile Phones

By organizing and planning on their virtual calendar which is provided on the phone. Whether people think about it or not, cell phones have been affecting everyone’s life in multiple different ways. Unfortunately, phones have been known to cause a distraction from people at school or work. their families and friends usually calling and texting

Essay On Mobile Phones In School

Students should be able to use their cell phones in class because they can use them to check facts, you can do assignments on them, and parent to student contact would be much easier. One reason why Students should be able to use our cell phones in class is because they can use their mobile devices to check facts and get the information they need with their smartphones or mobile devices.

More about Persuasive Essay: Why Should School Phones Used In School?

10 Reasons Why Cell Phones Should be Allowed in Schools

In recent years, the debate over allowing students to use their phones at school has gained considerable attention. While many educational institutions enforce strict policies against cell phones , the argument for permitting their use is also compelling. In a world where technology permeates almost every aspect of our lives, it’s worth examining why cell phones should be allowed in schools.

Let’s take a step back and reconsider how cell phones can enhance the campus experience, rather than hinder it. After all, digital tools can streamline administration and make the campus experience much more enjoyable. Whether it’s checking into school events, participating in polls or group conversations, or even redeeming points for school swag, the arguments for cell phones on campus are vast. Schools that are open to the idea—but worried about abuse—can establish clear guidelines to regulate usage, ensuring that the devices serve a practical purpose without becoming a distraction.

Here are 10 Reasons Why Cell Phones Should be Allowed in Schools:

1. responsible digital citizenship.

When integrating phone time into the classroom environment it serves to teach students digital boundaries and enforces a positive screen time limit which will follow students off campus. Creating this boundary of situational cell phone use by having designated phone use on campus helps students live a life where their phone is a tool that they are not dependent on. 

Ensuring all students are safe is constantly on the minds of faculty. With students having connection to their parents at any time and ongoing digital communication with their peers during breaks, they are almost constantly under the watch of their trusted individuals. Not to mention anti-fraud Digital Hall Passes and Digital Student ID Cards are now available on student devices.

3. Accelerated learning

One proven fact is that cell phones in school can help accelerate a student’s learning. Students involved in social outlets like sports or clubs are able to excel in the classroom. Using virtual social tools can have that same effect and help students stay engaged in a classroom environment.

4. Activities

Letting students use their phones for interactive classwork and activities is an amazing way to keep them present and raise participation to an all-time high. 

5. Fosters positive change and innovation

Innovation is one of the great forefronts of academic society, so embrace it, and help prepare students for the outside world where phones are now a large part of 83% of the workforce. 

6. Intuitive learning

Since students today have grown up using cell phones, they are extremely comfortable with technology. Students of this generation have an intuitive sense of learning when it comes to tech and can help facilitate even the hardest of materials when made digital on a screen that the student is familiar with.

Every cell phone has access to a variety of tools that can come in handy in a classroom environment, such as a calculator, a timer, a clock, etc. 

8. Group work

Another reason why cell phones should be allowed on high school campuses is because they enable group work in the classroom, especially if you have multiple groups working toward different objectives. 

9. Creativity

Fostering creativity in the classroom is every teacher’s goal. With tools like video editing, and cameras, students can grasp their creative sides and become more engaged in some topics through the expression of their artistic passion.

10. Memories and fun

Lastly, you should allow phones at middle and high school campuses because this allows students to document and build their memories and relationships as they grow and create a positive school life where they feel happy to attend every day. 

Build a thriving school community that runs like clockwork with Minga’s comprehensive  Campus Management Platform . The software integrates smoothly with existing Student Information Systems to offer a solution that saves your school time and money.  Book a demo  with a Minga solutions expert to learn more.

Related Posts

• Celebrating Minga’s Impact Across the United States 23/24 School Year

• New Technology for Teachers: Strategies for Staff Buy-In

• What is Chronic Absenteeism and Why Does it Matter?
• Campus Management Platform
• Community and Communication
• Digital Hall Pass
• Digital Student ID
• PBIS and Behavior Tracking
• Press Releases
• Safety and Security
• School Culture and Student Engagement

Recent Posts

• Experience the new Minga V7 – enhanced for simplicity and efficiency!
• What Is a Digital Hall Pass, and How Does It Work?

• EssayBasics.com
• Pay For Essay
• Write My Essay
• Homework Writing Help
• Essay Editing Service
• Thesis Writing Help
• Write My College Essay
• Do My Essay
• Term Paper Writing Service
• Coursework Writing Service
• Write My Research Paper
• Assignment Writing Help
• Essay Writing Help
• Call Now! (USA) Login Order now
• EssayBasics.com Call Now! (USA) Order now
• Writing Guides

Should Students Be Allowed To Use Cell Phones In School (Essay Sample)

Should students be allowed to use cell phones in school.

Cell phones have undeniably become a fundamental part of everyday life. Every person from toddlers to the elderly own and operate them for different reasons such as games, communicating, entertainment, and learning. Their increased use has extended to schools where numerous efforts have been implemented to fight their use. However, in my opinion, cell phones offer an array of benefits to school life of a student, making them valuable assets for students Cell phones are essential for educational purposes. A cell phone is a portable computer that contains several applications. For instance, the calculator application found in every cell phone is vital for counting and completing assignments. Applications such as stopwatches and timers are efficient in science classes for conducting experiments and in sporting activities where timekeeping is necessary. Cell phones also facilitate research work and writing of projects by facilitating access to the internet. Thus, it encourages students to complete their assignments and do extra reading. Moreover, teachers can utilize them as a teaching aid by promoting communication with children with disabilities and eliciting interactive learning through learning platforms.

Cell phones are a monitoring tool by parents and teachers. When away from home many parents often worry about their children’s wellbeing and whereabouts. Cell phone use at school allows parents to be informed of their children’s whereabouts by utilizing tracking applications to pinpoint their children’s location. Moreover, with cell phones, parents can call their children at all times to find out how they are and learn their plans even after school to avoid worrying. Teachers can use cell phones to track the students’ performance by using it to assign and receive assignments.

Cell phones are important emergency tools. Recently, schools across the United States have become grounds for various criminal acts such as mass shootings, kidnappings, and gang-related fights. Moreover, other emergencies such as natural disasters and illnesses also occur in schools. Cell phones in these scenarios are important as students can utilize them to report the various emergencies to first respondents, contact their parents and even help the law enforcement agencies catch the criminal perpetrators through revealing their location.

Cell phones facilitate instilling responsibility. Students are aware of the several ways they should not use their cell phones in school such as playing games, cheating in exams, texting or calling others. Since the students are on the path to becoming adulthood where minimal restrictions exist in using cell phones, teachers can allow their use as a way of instilling cell phone etiquette such as not using it in class, or for cheating purposes. Moreover, since use cell phones are rampant in the job market for communication with clients, check email, carry out work, research, and utilization of their applications, their use in school can facilitate acquiring of experience crucial in such a scenario.

Cell phones in school can be used for communication. Teachers can utilize cell phones to send information to students pertaining to different classes or reminders to all the students without meeting them one by one. Students can also utilize the devices to communicate with fellow classmates through texts, calls and social media platforms.

In conclusion, the battle to ban cell phone use in schools is one impossible to win, as their use by students is significantly high. Nevertheless, its benefits of promoting educational activities, enabling monitoring of students by parents and teachers, facilitating communication, emergencies and instilling responsibility, makes it acceptable for students to use them in school.

Should Cellphones Be Allowed in Schools (Essay Sample)

This is a free essay sample available for all students. If you are looking where to buy pre written essays on the topic “Should Cellphones Be Allowed in Schools”, browse our private essay samples .

Table of Contents

Introduction

In this day and age, it is a rarity to see a young person who doesn’t own a cell phone. It seems that the age of people who receive their first mobile phone is getting younger and younger by the year.

Here’s a good question: Should students be allowed to use cellphones in school? The writer of this sample essay defends the advantages of allowing these gadgets to be brought by students.

We have other essays on different topics on our website . Feel free to browse through these samples, or contact us for our affordable quality essay writing services.

Do Mobile Phones and Education Go Together?

One of the biggest dilemmas parents wrestle with on a daily basis is whether or not to allow their kids to bring their mobile phones to school. While it is always handy to have a gadget that enables them to keep tabs on their kids, they also wonder if bringing them would be counterproductive to helping them focus in class.

However, I am of the firm belief that allowing cell phones in schools is not only safe but advantageous. The way that education technology has progressed in recent years allows room to use these gadgets as a strategic and powerful platform for quality learning.

In this essay, I would like to share a few great ways for cell phones to be integrated in every student’s learning experience.

The Educational Benefits of Allowing Cell Phones in the Classroom

There is a wide range of great educational apps that can be used by learners..

Textbooks and lectures are no longer the sole resources in the world of education. Today, the quick advances of technology have now made their way into the educational system. Various learning apps have now been created to help students stay on top of their coursework. Some of these help learners manage their time as well and help organize their assignments and projects in a streamlined manner. With these apps conveniently downloaded on each student’s cell phone, they can easily access any learning tool of their choice.

Social media and other digital platforms increase student engagement inside and outside the classroom.

Gone are the days when teachers were heavily dependent on oral recitation to gauge the interest and participation of the class. These days, part of the teacher’s job is to integrate creative ways to initiate and sustain academic discussions with learners into their syllabus and curriculum. Social media and other digital tools are great ways to speak the younger generation’s language and get them interested in your current topic. Traditional reaction papers can now be replaced by a Facebook thread crowdsourcing varied opinions on a subject matter. Group presentations can be converted into the creation of simple yet interactive websites that contain all of the information the group gathers on the topic. Reflection papers can be alternated with the creation of digital artwork that authentically expresses the student’s thoughts on the topic. The camera phone can take relevant snapshots that they can use to bring life to their words. If learners are allowed to bring cell phones in school, they have the capacity to do this in real-time, making classroom discussions more lively.

Online resources can make research more interesting.

Giving students the option to turn to their electronic devices to do research is a great way to motivate them to find out more about the topic. When search engines are maximized and used to their advantage, they can be an effective learning tool that teachers can use to supplement their current materials. With search engines freely available on most mobile devices, teachers can even come up with speed-related games where students have to get the correct information online in the shortest span of time.

Being able to contact kids in real-time gives many parents peace of mind.

Of course, safety and security are paramount issues for parents, especially for those who live in rougher neighborhoods. Knowing where their child is and hearing from them when needed are valid reasons to accept phone calls while in school. Parents feel at ease when they are updated on the whereabouts of their kids, knowing that dangerous things can still happen even on “safe grounds.” It matters that they can easily contact their teen as they can easily inform them that they are okay.

Bringing their own smartphones to school gives learners a sense of responsibility.

I believe that phones should be allowed in the classroom because it teaches young people ownership and accountability. It is primarily an issue of trust. Parents allowing them to bring an expensive gadget to school is a challenge to learn responsible use. In today’s world, it is beneficial to establish trust early on in a child and parent relationship because the fruits of it are reaped years after. Letting your child take responsibility for his or her mobile phone teaches him or her how to exercise proper care for personal property. In turn this, teaches them respect for other people’s things.

Reasons Why Cell Phones Should Be Allowed In School

• It gives many parents comfort and reassurance. Being able to reach their kids during their free time is important for moms and dads, who are worried about the potential dangers of kidnapping and violence even in relatively safe areas.
• It allows for the use of technology as a learning tool. Teachers can maximize the use of cell phones in class by integrating them into their activities and curriculum. They can come up with games that require the use of the Internet and mobile phones, as well as come up with group projects that invite learners to create something on a digital platform as their key output.
• Educational apps can make kids’ academic lives easier. There are plenty of mobile apps that are specifically designed to help a student maximize his or her education. Some are developed by the school districts themselves for the exclusive use of their students and faculty, while others offer time management systems or additional topic-specific resources for anyone and everyone.
• It creates opportunities to establish trust and learn respect. If cell phones are allowed in school, kids learn the value of property care and respecting the possessions of others. The school authority won’t ultimately be responsible for the damage and loss of valuable items. That role falls on the shoulders of the whole class. Every student now has the opportunity to learn how to care for something and also honor what doesn’t belong to them.
• It helps friends stay connected while in school. Students feel sad when their friends end up in another classroom at the start of every new term. Being able to easily contact their peers keeps their spirits up as they go through the different seasons of academic life.

Conclusion: Bringing a Cell Phone to School Should Be Encouraged

I understand that there are many concerns about how mobile phones keep students from paying attention in class or cause a big distraction during a session. However, I believe that the benefits outweigh these risks. We have been blessed with technology for a reason, and I think it is high time that we maximize its potential in every sphere of life.

Making the cell phone allowed in school is not necessarily a bad idea. Instead, it is an opportunity to establish trust and healthy boundaries through rewards and consequences. There must be cooperation and collaboration between the parents and teachers to ensure that learning is maximized during school hours, even with the use of mobile phones.

Editorial: Yes, more schools should ban student cellphones

• Copy Link URL Copied!

This year’s hottest back-to-school trend is one most students won’t like: cellphone bans.

A growing number of districts across the country have enacted, or plan to enact, prohibitions on students using their mobile phones during school hours starting this academic year. That includes some of the biggest districts, including Los Angeles Unified and New York City , which intend to ban phones in early 2025.

Several states, including Florida, South Carolina and Louisiana, have passed laws requiring school cellphone bans. And several more, including Indiana, Minnesota and Ohio, have ordered districts to develop rules that limit kids’ cellphone use at school. Gov. Gavin Newsom sent a letter to California districts last week urging them to limit student smartphone use.

Opinion: Why LAUSD should ban smartphones in schools

L.A.’s principals and teachers need a policy aligned with current research, which shows that curbing phone use in schools leads to better academic performance and less cyberbullying.

June 14, 2024

The 2024-25 school year may be the tipping point when adults act to curb kids’ phone addiction and regain their attention. It’s about time.

It should be obvious by now that having a pocket-size entertainment center that constantly buzzes with alerts and enticements is not great for kids’ ability to focus and learn. (It’s not great for adults either.)

Opinion: I bought a flip phone and tried to get by without my smartphone. Here’s how that went

A middle school principal and father grew concerned about people’s relationships with their smartphones. So he opted for a dramatic tech downgrade.

Jan. 13, 2024

Simply having a phone nearby with notifications coming through can cause students to lose focus on the task at hand, according to one study . Once distracted, it can take as long as 20 minutes to refocus. Other studies have found that keeping a phone close by during a lecture impairs attention and reduces memory retention.

Nearly three-fourths of high school teachers surveyed last fall said that students being distracted by their cellphones in the classroom was a major problem, according to the Pew Research Center. And more than half of those teachers said school policies restricting cellphone use in the classroom were difficult to enforce. (Middle school and elementary teachers had it a little easier, with their students less distracted and more compliant with restrictions.)

Editorial: Social media companies refuse to safeguard kids. It’s up to lawmakers now

State and federal lawmakers are trying to create regulations to protect kids from potential harms from social media use. It’s not easy to find balance.

April 22, 2024

In addition, excessive social media heightens the risk of anxiety, depression and cyberbullying, and students use their phones during the day to coordinate drug purchases and fights. It’s clear that the presence of cellphones on campus is more harmful than helpful. Kids need an intervention, and schools are right to rein in this technology now before another generation suffers.

“It’s our responsibility in loco parentis to act as the responsible adult who protects them” during the school day, Los Angeles schools Supt. Alberto Carvalho said.

Los Angeles Unified is now consulting with administrators, parents, students and experts about the details of the proposed cellphone ban. The district is still studying the options — other districts have required students to keep phones in their lockers, sealed in lockable pouches or checked into phone cubbies — and the method may differ from campus to campus.

The goal, Carvalho said, is to have a policy that is implemented consistently across schools. District staff will make recommendations to the Board of Education in December, with the goal of having the ban take effect when students return from winter break in January.

Yes, it will be difficult to change the behavior of both students, who are loath to part with their phones, and their parents, who are accustomed to being able to reach their kids at any time of the day. Yes, some students will try to evade the rules. The first weeks and months of a cellphone ban will be challenging for teachers, administrators, students and parents. This will be a major culture change, but a worthy one.

And it’s quite possible that by the end of the school year, students and educators will look back and think, “Why didn’t we do this earlier?”

More to Read

California passes school cellphone restrictions. But some students find workarounds

Aug. 28, 2024

California lawmakers continue push to regulate social media despite legal hurdles

July 22, 2024

High school softball coaches will be allowed to use electronic devices to communicate with catchers

July 8, 2024

A cure for the common opinion

Get thought-provoking perspectives with our weekly newsletter.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

The Los Angeles Times’ editorial board determines the positions of The Times as an institution. It operates separately from the newsroom. You can read more about the board’s mission and its members at About The Times Editorial Board .

More From the Los Angeles Times

Editorial: It’s not election interference to hold a former president accountable for election interference

Aug. 29, 2024

Editorial: The Clippers arena may be allowed to serve alcohol till 4 a.m. Why not other bars and restaurants?

Editorial: Why the rush? Hasty L.A. school bond vote leaves many questions unanswered

Editorial: Parole consideration for those sentenced to life behind bars 35 years ago? It’s the right thing to do

Aug. 27, 2024

• Health A to Z
• Alternative Medicine
• Blood Disorders
• Bone and Joint
• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Child Health
• Coronavirus
• Dental Care
• Digestive System
• Disabilities
• Drug Center
• Ear, Nose, and Throat
• Environmental Health
• Exercise And Fitness
• First Aid and Emergencies
• General Health
• Health Technology
• Hearing Loss
• Hypertension
• Infectious Disease
• LGBTQ Health
• Liver Health
• Men's Health
• Mental Health
• Pain Management
• Public Health
• Pulmonology
• Senior Health
• Sexual Health
• Skin Health
• Women's Health
• News For Medical Professionals
• Our Products
• Consumer News
• Physician's Briefing
• HealthDay TV
• Wellness Library
• HealthDay Living
• Conference Coverage
• Custom Products
• Health Writing
• Health Editing
• Video Production
• Medical Review

Evidence Supports Classroom Cellphone Bans, Expert Says

Key Takeaways

Cellphone bans can help classroom learning

Students will be more focused and creative without their phones

They also will be more apt to learn better social skills

THURSDAY, Aug. 29, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Classroom cellphone bans should help improve learning environments in schools, a child development expert says.

Keeping the devices out of classrooms would help focus attention, improve problem-solving and -- by allowing kids to occasionally lapse into boredom -- spur creativity, says Jon Piacentini , a child and adolescent psychologist at UCLA Health.

“There are more harms associated with cellphone use in school than the benefits,” Piacentini, a father of three, said in a UCLA news release.

As a new school year kicks in, school district officials across the United States are weighing cellphone restrictions, experts said.

Nearly 84% of teens ages 16 to 19 have a cellphone, making the devices as ubiquitous as backpacks, highlighters and three-ring binders, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

What’s more, U.S. children ages 8 to 12 spend about six hours a day on screens , sometimes while in class, the NIH said.

“We know that a lot of kids are spending time on their phone during class or during recess,” Piacentini said.

Dividing attention between class and a smartphone can make it tough for students to concentrate or problem-solve, he noted.

Students who can’t concentrate “do not have the ability to take multiple perspectives or see problems from multiple approaches,” Piacentini said.

Cellphones can also harm kids’ imagination and critical thinking skills by never allowing their minds to wander, and boredom actually stimulates creativity in kids, he explained.

“If kids are on their phones 24/7, it doesn’t help them develop a sense that they can create, understand and generate thoughts and ideas,” Piacentini said.

Smartphones can also stunt kids’ social development. Traditional forms of play and connection are being replaced by video games and online platforms, according to Piacentini. As a result, kids might not be prepared to engage socially in person with others they don’t know.

Social media algorithms also can increase a child’s anxiety by spreading misinformation or reinforcing biases, Piacentini said.

Young children without the capacity and context to understand and interpret such messages may come to believe “that the world is scary,” he said.

Parents can help schools that ban classroom cellphones by mirroring those restrictions at home.

For example, parents can require no cellphones at the dinner table or in the bedroom before sleep, Piacentini said. Parents also can create more opportunities for children to put away their phones and enjoy non-screen activities with family and friends.

More information

The National Education Association has more on classroom cellphone bans .

SOURCE: UCLA, news release, Aug. 12, 2024

What This Means For You

Parents can help support classroom cellphone bans by setting guidelines around phone use at home.

Related Stories

School is no place for cellphones, and some states are cracking down

School is no place for cellphones. That’s the message coming from campuses far and wide as kids head back to school this fall with some of the strictest bans on smartphones in the classroom since the ever-present “tech appendage” went mainstream more than a decade ago.   

The crackdowns come at a time educators, lawmakers and even some students say cellphones have become a constant distraction that takes a toll on academic performance and mental health. 

“Cellphones are a drug, and kids are wired to get addicted,” Idaho's Boise County Sheriff Deputy Dave Gomez tells me over the phone. Gomez has been a school resource officer for the past 11 years and says he has seen the problems with students and smartphones get worse every year.  

“All this (new smartphone technology) comes at the cost of childhood. I see sixth graders who don't have a cellphone. They bring their guitar, they bring their ukulele, they draw, they do sports. And then I watch them get a cellphone in seventh grade, and they give up everything for that cellphone; no more guitar, no more drawing, no more friends. That cellphone becomes their No. 1 priority.” 

When are cellphones ‘too much too soon?’  

That’s precisely what happened when Wilmington, North Carolina, mom Leigh Hicks allowed her daughter to use an iPhone just before the sixth grade.  

“My dad got her an Apple watch, and it came with a free phone,” Hicks says. “I was against her having a phone that young, and I should have stood my ground, but I caved.”  

Hicks says she used Apple’s parental controls and set strict ground rules around her daughter’s iPhone. Still, she says, within a year, her daughter was “completely and totally consumed by that smartphone and social media, and it absolutely changed who she was. She got maybe like 23 write-ups in school. She would sneak into my room at night and use my face or my finger to unlock the phone in the middle of the night. It was a horrible experience.”  

Hicks says getting rid of the phone was the only thing that helped. Now, her almost 16-year-old daughter is starting 10th grade with a Lively Jitterbug Flip2 phone − a device marketed mainly to senior citizens for simple calls and texts. “It’s the only flip phone I could find that doesn’t have any internet access capability,” Hicks says with a sigh.  

In Virginia Beach, Virginia, first grade teacher Allison Graves also regretted giving her daughter an older-model iPhone just before the seventh grade. “There are some things that were happening (after getting the phone) that weren't the safest or the best choices. She wasn’t following our rules of what was appropriate and OK to do on the phone. I’ll leave it at that.”  

Graves says she locked down her daughters’ phones, too, setting Apple screen time limits and turning on content, privacy and app download restrictions. It didn’t work.  

“One time, I was looking at her phone, and she had TikTok on it. Some kids at her school knew a workaround for it.”  

Graves also removed the iPhone and replaced it with a Bark phone built specifically for kids. She says she “loves it” because the phone can grow with her daughter, with more features added thoughtfully as she matures.  

“From what I know as an educator about children's brains, giving them a smartphone is like putting a child in a candy store with every imaginable sweet available but telling them they can only go to the one corner with vegetables and only eat vegetables. I don’t know anybody who can do that.”  

Both parents say they are relieved by more widespread and serious school cellphone bans. They hope it might take some of the pressure off them and some of the peer pressure off their daughters. 

“It would help if no one has (smartphones) in class,” Graves adds. “If I need to get ahold of my daughter during the day, I call the office. Or she can use the office phone to call me. Or she can use the basic flip phone after class.” Hicks agrees.  

Phones for kids: Screen time can be safer with these devices

What schools are banning cellphones?  

Los Angeles Unified , the second-largest school district in the country, voted over the summer to ban smartphones . The measure won’t take full effect until January, but already, LAU schools are warning students to keep them turned off and tucked away.  

Schools from Seattle to St. Louis are jumping on the no-cellphone bandwagon, and several states are going all-in to keep phones out too. Ohio, Indiana, Oklahoma and Florida have some degree of prohibition on phones in schools .  

Several other states are weighing similar legislation, including New York − home to the largest school district in America − and California. As of right now, 11 states either restrict, or ask schools to restrict , cellphones from “bell to bell.” 

Or better yet, say many people who work in schools, don’t let kids bring them to school at all.  

“Don't even let the cellphones go to school because they're too big of a temptation," Gomez says. “If you allow kids to keep them in pockets or lockers, they’ll go to the bathroom, you know, 20 times an hour. It's just too much.” 

But many say parents might want to discourage kids from taking them to school at all.  

Why are schools banning cellphones?  

Nearly three-quarters of high school teachers and one-third of middle school teachers in America say smartphone distractions are a significant problem in their classrooms, according to a  Pew Research Center survey released in June.  

Another study released last fall by Common Sense Media shows that 97% of kids use their phones at school. The average student gets about 60 notifications during school hours in a single day and spends 43 minutes − about the same length as a full class period − on their phone.  

Just having a phone nearby is enough to break a student’s concentration, states a report by UNESCO , the United Nations' education, science and culture agency. Once distracted by a ding, buzz or quick peek at Snapchat, it can take up to 20 minutes for teens to refocus on learning.  

But do the bans actually work? In my next column, we look at why so parents are pushing back on restrictions and will do just about anything to remain tethered to their kids by tech 24/7.  

We also look at some smartphone alternatives that seem to hit the sweet spot for both kids and parents when it comes to staying connected − with guardrails.  

Jennifer Jolly is an Emmy Award-winning consumer tech columnist and on-air correspondent. The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. Contact her at [email protected] .  

• Environment
• National Politics
• Transportation
• Coronavirus

NJ has new guidance for schools regarding student cellphone use. What it says

3-minute read.

New Jersey's Department of Education has released new guidance to school districts about creating cellphone policies in schools, amid growing concerns over the impact of their use on students' learning and mental health.

Currently, New Jersey school districts may create their own policies dictating students' cellphone use while in school, said a letter sent Wednesday to district superintendents.

While policies should consider the benefits of smartphones — such as accessing digital resources in class — the guidance pointed to research showing the negative impacts of excessive cellphone use on students, including increased anxiety and depression and poorer academic performance.

Story continues below photo gallery

"College students allowed to use cellphones during lectures performed worse on end-of-term exams by at least 5%, equivalent to a half-letter grade reduction," the guidance said, referring to a Rutgers University study that discussed how the "intrusion of internet-enabled electronic devices (laptop, tablet, and cellphone) has transformed the modern college lecture into a divided attention task."

Students who used phones during lecture for non-academic purposes understood the material being taught, but did not retain the information as well as those who did not use phones, the study said.

Schools that have placed restrictions on cellphone use, the state said, have seen "improved social interactions, with students more likely to engage with each other and their teachers."

Still, any new policies should be made after careful consideration and serious dialogue with parents and community members, with clear expectations for communication during emergency situations, the state advised.

Commission on impact of social media on kids

The state education department is convening a "Commission on the Effects of Social Media Usage on Adolescents," to come up with proposals and methods to reduce harm caused by unhealthy social media and cellphone use among children and youth.

The commission's findings will inform future policy-making and next steps from the state, it said. Members of the public are invited to send comments and feedback about existing cellphone policies in school districts to [email protected] .

The move to mitigate social media effects on kids has spread beyond education circles. "Wait until 8th," a community initiative run by a group of parents based in Austin, Texas, asks parents to take a pledge to wait until eighth grade before buying their child a smartphone. The program builds support by creating school communities that adopt the pledge to bring to administrators and school boards.

In New Jersey, the suicide of Adriana Kuch , a 14-year-old student at Central Regional High School in Bayville on Feb 4., after fellow students attacked her in a hallway and posted a video online, led to an outcry.

Ramsey, other districts implementing restrictions

Some New Jersey school districts have issued policies requiring students to surrender their phones or drop them into a bag while on premises. Other policies authorize district administrators to seize them. Linden, New Brunswick, East Orange, Pennsauken, Jersey City, Willingboro and Bridgeton school districts use lock bags for cellphones.

In Bergen County, the Ramsey Board of Education is working on an "Away for The Day" policy that, once implemented, would have the youngest kids turning off their phones and keeping them in their backpacks. High schoolers would be required to place their phones in a storage system while in class. Middletown school district in Monmouth County has implemented a similar policy that takes effect this fall.

Nine states and at least three citywide school districts moved to create restrictions on cellphone use in schools since 2019, according to a July report from the Education Commission of the States, a national organization led by state education commissioners, governors and lawmakers.

The push to regulate phone use by kids appears to cross party lines.

Florida prohibited student cellphone use during instructional time in 2023. It requires teachers to assign an area for cellphones during lessons.

California passed a 2019 law permitting school boards to create restrictive phone-use policies, with exceptions for emergencies and for special education students, the report said.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams held off on issuing a widely expected cellphone ban throughout its schools, according to comments made this week.

Home — Essay Samples — Information Science and Technology — Cell Phones — Using Cell Phones in School: Analysis of Pros and Cons

Using Cell Phones in School: Analysis of Pros and Cons

• Categories: Cell Phones Technology in Education

About this sample

Words: 848 |

Published: Sep 5, 2023

Words: 848 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Table of contents

Access to information and communication, enhanced learning opportunities, drawbacks and challenges, promoting digital literacy for responsible use.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr. Karlyna PhD

Verified writer

• Expert in: Information Science and Technology

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

1 pages / 588 words

2 pages / 760 words

2 pages / 984 words

2 pages / 718 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Cell Phones

Functional analysis is a model of psychological formulation designed to understand the functions of human behavior. It has its origins in behavioral psychology. At its core, functional analysis assumes that all behavior is [...]

Cell phones in schools have been a topic of debate for years, and the discourse continues to evolve. The core question remains: should cell phones be allowed in school? In this argumentative essay, we will delve deeper into this [...]

In the contemporary era, cell phones have transcended their primary function of enabling communication to become indispensable tools integral to daily life. From facilitating social interactions to acting as gateways to [...]

Cell phones have evolved from luxury items to indispensable tools for daily life. These devices facilitate instant communication, provide access to a wealth of information, and offer entertainment through various applications. [...]

I choose this topic because, it is interesting topic for me. I don’t know when but while I was thinking for my own organization(future goal) it came into my mind. Now I have an opportunity to think about it. [...]

I believe that cell phones are dangerous. They pose a threat to safety, family life, social behavior, and to people’s attention on the road. In society today, cell phones are common among everyone—every gender, every age. [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free