Banning Cell Phones
The fire alarm goes off. Students rush outside in confusion, but one student can’t call their parents to let them know they’re safe. Why? Their cell phones were locked away due to a school ban. While phones can distract, they can also be a lifeline. So, should schools really ban them altogether? Each argument has pros and cons, which is the reason why schools are slowly enforcing this rule and not right away. They’re getting a sense of what problems could arise and deciding on the best course of action.
Banning phones from school can be seen as harsh by the students, but there are many reasons for this. Phones can distract students from vital learning, and just having a phone in your pocket can cause distraction. When you receive a notification and feel a buzz in your pocket, anyone will have the urge to check their phone and have the urge to use the phone to do schoolwork or cheat on a test or exam. Studies have shown that having phones in your pocket and overall, just having access to them has lower test scores than students that do not have access to them. Also, by banning phones, students will be more interactive with others around them, improving social and communication skills that will be needed outside of school. Overall, banning phones can encourage better focus and can help improve students’ social lives.
A complete ban on phones in schools will be hard to enforce. It would be a lot more of a burden on the staff because they will have to spend more time on confiscating devices and monitoring rather than teaching. Students will most likely still find ways to use their phones and ignore the rules, but with cell phones, students will not be limited to communication with parents and vice versa. Also, during emergencies, students will be able to connect with anyone outside of the school, which can be lifesaving. Some students only have internet access through their phones. Banning them may cause unneeded problems, especially for homework or hybrid learning. Overall, banning phones may limit students' ability to learn how to use technology responsibly, which is a key skill in modern life and workplaces.
The question of whether phones should be banned in schools depends on how technology is managed rather than allowed or prohibited. On one hand, banning phones can reduce distractions, improve focus, and help prevent cheating. These benefits support a more controlled and focused classroom environment. However, banning phones also brings drawbacks. It can limit educational opportunities, cause problems communicating in emergencies, and create challenges for staff. Also, it may prevent students from developing digital literacy skills they will need in the real world. Rather than a ban, schools should allow phone use at appropriate times. Overall, the goal should be to teach students how to use technology responsibly, not to avoid it altogether.