Bloggy MacBloggerson

Should cell phones be aloud in schools? A simple yes or no question, then why is it so hard to find the answer. Cell phones are a part of modern life, but they are often thought of as nothing but a distraction to students. There is strong argument on both sides.

            Many parents buy cell phones for their children to bring to school and use in the case of an emergency. Anything could happen while a child is at school, and they may need to contact their parents and their parents may need to contact them. Something as simple as a power outage in the school could call for a cell phone. Or it could be something more serious, such as a bomb threat.

            Cell phones can also be used for something as simple as a student forgetting something, such as their lunch, at home. Not everyone will always have money with them to use for the school pay phones or else they would be able to buy their lunch. The same thing could happen with assignments, textbooks, etc. that could have been left behind.

            Cell phones are a part of modern society and cannot be stopped. Some think that the school authorities should embrace the idea of cell phones. Cell phones could become learning tools which teachers should embrace the idea of using them.  It is possible that cell phones are not aloud in schools because they are not understood as what often happens between to different generations.

Cell phones can definitely be used for good in a school environment and that must not be forgotten. However, there are definitely some problems which could be associated with the use of cell phones.

The number one reason teachers have a problem with cell phones is that they are common distractions. A student’s cell phone could ring in class distracting the other students. There have also been many cases of students being caught sending text messages in class. Students have also been caught texting during exams and tests as a way of cheating.

            Students can also use camera phones to take pictures of a test and use the pictures to help another student cheat. There have also been cases of students taking inappropriate pictures with there camera phones and posting them on the Internet.

            School authorities have pointed out that difficulties can occur if too many students are calling their parents in emergency situations. Students may not be paying attention to what is going on or might overload cell phone systems. Also, cell phones can very well be the cause of an emergency like a bomb threat. Cell phones are also often used in school for the distribution of illegal drugs. They are also among the top stolen items in school.

            The arguments against having cell phones in school are clearly very strong, but one must not forget the other side of the argument.  I believe that cell phones should be aloud in school but should have necessary restrictions put on them.

I believe that students should be aloud to have cell phones with them in school as long as they are turned off during class and only used outside class. Students should be able to use their phones in the hallway and have them confiscated if used in class.

The idea of cell phone systems overloading because panicked adolescents were making too many calls, but cell phones may still be useful if control over the students is taken and people of authority are making the calls. Cell phones are still useful if there is an emergency of smaller proportions or if the student has any other reason to call home.

The fact that a cell phone can be a distraction in class is why teachers should be aloud to confiscate a student’s phone if they are misusing it in class. As was stated earlier, cell phones could be used as learning tools. Teachers could be using the technology to their advantage.

Camera cell phones can be used just as easily as a regular digital camera. Even if cell phones are taken away from a student they could just as easily use an ordinary camera for the same purposes. If a solution is being searched for for the case of camera’s being used inappropriately the banning of cell phones is not that solution.

Students should know that there is a risk of anything being stolen in school. It is up to the student to understand the risk of having their phone stolen at school and decide whether to risk taking it with them or not.

Cell phones are a part of modern society and cannot be simply banned from schools. School authorities should embrace the advantages and accept the disadvantages of having cell phones in school because there is no way they can stop what is coming to them.