Should Schools Ban Cell Phones?

With the discovery of a high-pitched ring tone most adults can’t hear, the battle over cell phones in schools will probably continue to heat up.

New York City schools, and some others as well, ban cell phones and confiscate them when they are found. In a Reuters article on the issue, NYC Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott said that “Students have used cell phones to summon friends for fights, to cheat on exams and to take illicit photographs."

But apparently many parents see the issue differently. One mother interviewed for the Reuters piece said “her kids needed phones so she could ‘juggle their lives’ and keep track of them.” Another person interviewed commented that back in the olden days, they didn’t confiscate the pencil just because kids used them to pass notes in class.

Well, I wonder if they’re covering this in today’s education schools and professional development sessions for teachers, principals and superintendents. You can certainly understand the problems that might be involved trying to get a bunch of teenagers with cell phones -- complete with games, cameras, music, and soon TV shows and movies -- to stay riveted on their school work in algebra one or French class. On the other hand, you can also understand parents’ interest in being able to reach their children quickly in an emergency. You might also make an argument that youngsters ought to learn how to use cell phones in constructive, responsible, polite ways as part of growing up -- and that learning how to use them appropriately in school is part of that.

And just so parents can rest easy about the challenges of raising kids today, here are some cell phone results from Public Agenda’s survey of 6^th through 12^th graders not too long ago. Three in 10 youngsters admitted they had fibbed to their parents about their location using a cell phone. About the same number said they had ignored the phone when they realized it was their parents calling. And that’s just the ones who admitted it.

So what say you about all this? How should schools handle the cell phone dilemma? And what does it say about the state of education debate these days that arguments over cell phones seem to inspire more interest and heat than discussions on how to find really good math teachers for local schools and how to attract and keep the best and most gifted teachers in the schools that need them most?

Jean Johnson

 

Comments

[Garin Hess]

Just a couple of thoughts.

It is a dilemma, but cell phones and other portable devices are becoming increasingly part of a workflow that is important to learn how to manage. Perhaps instead of confiscating them we should come up with best practices for them and teach and train kids how to use them in a way that is healthy, productive, and cooperative.

Another alternative in the meantime could be collecting cell phones or have a cubby where they can place their phones during class and retrieve them afterwards.

[Julie Stroeve]

cell phones in school? c'mon...this is a no-brainer. Phones don't come to school. Guns don't either. Period. End of discussion.

[TJ]

Neither side is all good or all bad. I think a synthesis of the "No cell phones" and "Cell phones in schools" camps is in order. Establishing a policy of responsible and reasonable utilization of cell phones that holds students accountable thorugh appropriate disciplinary actions for misuse, would quell the strong feelings held by both sides and help integrate this technology into our school systems.

[thebizofknowledge]

I couldn't believe it when I heard the first reports of that high pitched ring tone adults can't hear but children can! I personally think students should be allowed to carry cell phones in case of emergency but that there should be penalties for their use except for in designated areas during "free" periods.

[Janine Padilla]

Lets stop harbouring ideas that can move attention away from academics. Instead, we should be discussing how to improve capturing our childrens attention in regards to Math, Science, and Language Arts. Saftey matters and if there is an emergency your child will contact you if he/she wishes to. How did you survive attending school without a cell phone?

[CaTrina Nicholson]

Today, I went to pick my daughter from middle school and found out that her cell phone was confiscated because she had brought it to school, not because she was using the phone. I am out of the country approximately 13 days out of the month and informed the office of this. I was informed by a "volunteer" for the office that her grandmother(who is disabled) can be reached and cell phones were not to be brought to school at all and if the cell phone was found on her person again, it would be taken away for the entire school year. I decided not to respond to her further, but I am trying to decide what action to take. I can understand her not being able to use the phone during school , but after school or in an emergency, that is completely different.

[Teresa Torres]

John Stossel's report is on target with the deficits of our public education system. Kids are lost in the Status Quo system and their safety is at risk. Special Ed students don't get the services they are entitled to even though schools get funding from the federal government for those required services.

So, what is a parent to do?!

I will attend the meeting below to voice my concern with some of the key players from the Department of Ed.

Does anyone wish to join me? Click on the link....

http://www.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/cbpm/idea2004-cbpm-ppa.html

[liz]

cell phones should be alloewd in school in case of emergency

[elizabeth v (ubaldo lovE)]

CELL PHONES ALLOW IN SCHOOL BUT NOT USE THEM IN CLASS

[Donna]

Cell phones vs. education, high pitch tones, learning how to manage, just another added stigma that children feel they need, much like designer clothing. There is a true difference between a necessity and a want, I highly doubt that there is any real reason that a child needs a cell phone during class, they may want one, but there is not a need. Cell phones in class not only infringes on the rights of those trying to teach but those trying to learn. There is an absence of respect for other's when we find that we cannot disconnect long enough to go to a restroom or public place without bringing a phone. We as adults, send the message,we talk on cell phones while driving, eating in restaurants, at the movies, etc. There is very little that cannot wait until you are at home or out of class, we as a whole believe ourselves to be worthy enough to inconvenience others. We send the message to our children, that it is alright to bend the rules, when we talk on cell phones while driving, in public restaurants while others are eating, at movie theaters, as if we were the only ones in the room, or in the privacy of our homes. Children really do learn what they live, and maybe we should try living by the basics, and not allow ourselves to be caught up in the hype.

[luke goodspeed]

kids may need to contact their parents if they are getting bullyed after school when the phones in school are turned off.

[Lauren Francey]

I think that children cannot live without cell phones. Its kind of funny that we lived without them for a number of years, but now that we have them... we should use the invention. Banning cell phones isnt a great idea. Schools have had better ideas. Your gayyyy!

[Krystyna A]

why can`t we have them in school?
my school is taking a survey that I`m
going around with and it says, " Should we be able to have electronic appliances at school; to use after class, free times, or lunch?" One of my teachers even said yes to the idea, as long as they aren`t used during class time. Its stupid to ban cellphones from kids, and schools; they bought them, let them use them. jeez.

[shalli]

cell phones are very sacred and should be able to be used at school and should not be taken away by teachers becauase we pay tons of money for the coolest cell phones and we dont even get to use them. its stoopid. =/ eek and yes i have a cell phone and i use it proudly.

[Kenny C]

Hey guys. I understand your frustration with this whole dillema. I just got my phone taken away today during lunch. I had to call my mom to tell her I was staying after school to work on something. A security guard (yes we have those in our school) came up to me and took it away. I refused to give it to them, because I said it was my property, and not only that, it was my parent's property. My dad's name is on the bill, he signed the contract, and he owns the phone and the service. (but i bought the phone ;) They said that they would give me a referral, and called my parents, and could suspend me.

I totally agree that cell phones shouldn't be used in class. I believe that that is completely inappropriate. It is also a distraction to the learning enviornment.

I, however, was using mine during lunch. A security guard just came up and tried to take it. Then when he took me to the AP, i just gave up. Our school policy is to keep it for 24 hours.

Thank God for prepaid cell phones!

[Eric Fears]

i think that cell phones should be appropriate for High school because if an emergency is to come up the cell Phone could be the only solution to getting help for that problem.

[allison]

I think that cell phones should be allowed in schools only if theyre turned off untill the end of the day..that means that the child can have it after school for whatever their needs are.

[Joseph-james]

Kids should have cell phones for safety. Teachers are just jelous that we have thin razors and they have huge house phone, and by the way the comment by allison is my friend woot woot !!!!!

[Samantha]

cell phones should not be banned! there ours and as long as there not used in class there should be nothing anybody can do about it. Just because some people use them inappropriatly doesnt meen we all will.

[Kassie]

CELL PHONES SHOULD NOT BE BANNED!!!!!

[Get Real]

I think the teen comments with misspelled words, poor grammar and missing punctuation speak for themselves. Text messaging is ruining their ability to communicate effectively. Who can take their opinion seriously when it's obvious they are not paying attention in English class?

[home boy]

I think cell phones are a problem in school but either way it's 50% to 50% emergency,drama,drugs,fights,and more..... but the kids opinions don't mean nothing to adults they don't listen they just don't want us to have them so either way its wronge.

[Get Real]

That's not true. I really want my son to have his cell phone back. I like being able to text him whenever I want (or him texting me), but he can't be trusted to use it responsibly.

[Rani Chavarria]

cell phones should not be allowed in school it is a distracting advice that can take your mind off your work.

[africa]

no they should not be banned DAMN whats next banning tha right to live .this is messed and crunk aight.