Should Cell Phones be Allowed in School?

Should Cell Phones be Allowed in School?

October 27th, 2016 by McKenzie Kwak

The school's current policy on cell phones states that electronic devices must be kept in students' lockers from 8:10 to 3:05. However, in the age of technology, when new information is just a swipe away, many students have been resisting this rule.

Although the district prohibits the use of cell phones during school hours, such devices can be useful at times; they allow students to quickly look up facts if a computer is not available, or some students may prefer listening to music to increase productivity.

During study halls and lunch periods, students may also want to use their cell phones recreationally. I think this is fine, provided the student is passing all of his or her classes and has no overdue assignments. Allowing students cell phones during specific periods may also help them resist the temptation of sneaking such devices into other classes.

A problem that might crop up with cell phone usage is that it would be difficult for teachers to monitor what students are using their phones for, and some students may misuse the school's Wi-Fi network. This could most likely be avoided, however, if certain apps and websites are banned, or students who misuse the network lose their device privileges.

Proposals of allowing students to use personal devices in school have been rejected in the past, but I believe that as the world becomes more technology-oriented, cell phone usage during school would be beneficial overall.

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