A college study shows that 92% of teens with cell phones have texted in class. Many students use their phones in class when they aren’t supposed to. Some schools don’t even let students take their cell phones to school. 10% of teens have admitted that they used it on a test to cheat. On the other hands, there are some schools that use cell phones for educational purposes. There are students who participate in their own learning by using cell phones to access the internet, educational apps, and other tools like a calculator. For an example, at Melrose High School, science students use a physics app to collect acceleration data and measure sound intensity, and English students discuss literature on their smartphones.
“Cell phones should be allow
ed in school because what if something urgent comes up or there’s a family emergency, your family or whoever can call and update you on what happened while you’re in school,” Daniah Nuseibeh said. Daniah is a 10th grader at Fordson High School. Daniah told me she goes on her phone when she finishes all her work during class. “Yeah, I do sometimes text my friends but that’s only when most of my class work is done and I have nothing else to do other than sit and stare at the wall.” Many teachers complain that phones are a distraction to students. Daniah says that, “It just depends; sometimes they could be when the teacher’s trying to explain something important and everyone’s just on their phones, but most of the time they aren’t because our phones are usually in our pockets and they’re on silent. When I don’t text my friends in class, I’m usually either playing a game or just on twitter.”
Fatmeh Dabaja, an 11th grader at Fordson High school, says, “Yes, we should take our cell phones to school because cell phones have good uses, like they can easily replace computers that way schools don’t have to complain about not having money,” Fatmeh said. Some schools have started using tablets in class for online books or some tools that are needed. “I think it really depends on the person if a phone is a distraction in class because some people, like me, can stay off their phones in school with no problem while others actually turn their phones into the teacher because they can’t keep their hands off.” she explained. 84% of people can’t live without their phones and are addicted to it. When students get notifications, they answer quickly even when they’re in class. “Mainly texting or on snapchat, but sometimes I get bored and play a game like Fun Run with my friends,” Fatmeh said about being on her phone in class.
Mrs.Issa, a 7-8th grade language arts teacher at Unis Middle schools, says, “I do believe cell phones should be allowed in schools. They have proven to be helpful technological tools for learning.” Some teachers allow students to navigate educational apps that help make learning and teaching efficient. “Yes, I allow students to use their cell phones only when I assign them as tools,” she said. “Cell phones can be a distraction but teachers should set limits for usage in class.” Some teachers normally take away a student’s phone when they are on it. They either give it to the office or the teachers keep it with them for the day. “I take such matters case by case. Each situation has to be resolved according to the level of improper cell phone usage,” Mrs. Issa said about her punishment if a student was on their phone.
In conclusion, most schools allow students to have cell phones but require them to be turned off during class because they can be disruptive and distracting. I asked students in school if they go on their phones and all of them said yes. I asked 2 teachers and they said cell phones distract students and they don’t allow them in class. 62% of all students say they can have their phones in school, just not in class. Should schools ban cell phones or let students have them in school just, not in class?
Zeinab Jouni
Unis Middle School Journalist
Thanks for the info very very informative great job
Great point! Embracing technology is unavoidable and simply the way of life. Instead of looking at cellphones as a negative for students by resisting technology, change the mindset on how educationally beneficial it can be for students’ and their grades, as well for teachers’ and their new way of delivering the curriculum. Nice blog, keep up the good work
This is such an important issue, Zeinab. So many schools still officially outlaw mobile phones during the school day. But there’s so much we can learn from those little computers in our pockets. Nice job gathering quotes and statistics for this story! Where was that college study published?
I hope you and your classmates keep up the good work!
Interesting topic! This is a very timely article, as cell phone usage during school is extremely common today. I thought it was a great idea to include statistics from a college study and to conduct your own research at Unis Middle School. Because I assumed most teachers would disagree with cell phone usage during school, I was pleasantly surprised to find a quote in here from a teacher who approves of proper cell phone usage at school. Overall, an interesting article that poses a thought-provoking question for readers at the end.
I think phones are definitely useful when they are used the right way! When my 13 year-old nephew tells me how he and his friends take advantage of their cell phones in class when he shouldn’t, I am worried about what he is even learning. I hope that we, as teachers, can get our students engaged in a way that cell phones help academically!
I think cellphones are helpful for some students but maybe distractive to some students.
Tahany Ahmed 7th Hour
How? Would love to see real life examples!
Cell phones can be a distraction, but I also believe it beneficial. For example, I am in Mrs.Issa’s class and I need to look up a definition for a word for my schoolwork. I take out my phone and search it up and there. But I also agree on banning cell phones when you don’t need it, especially on a test.
This is a very nice story that goes more in depth on cell phones in school.
I agree, there is definitely times when cell phones can be helpful in schools!
Phones in my school aren’t allowed to be used. Here are some examples of why phones should be allowed in school. One example is, I think phones are helpful, because instead of asking the teachers many questions. Another example is, Because they can be a good use to students whether it’s with family or for educational purposes. Last example is, phones should be allowed in school, because cameras on phones can be used to take pictures of homework assignments.
Tahany Ahmed 7th Hour
I am for cell phones for certain reasons and think they can be a distraction once in a while. Cell phones are good when you have to look something up in class without distracting the people around you. Also, cell phones are useful in a emergency situation ( reaching out to your parents). I am against cell phones sometimes because students “may be looking up things that are school related” as they would say but sometimes go of subject. Lastly, phones can go of and distract the class. I really liked how the article mentioned ” cell phones can easily replace computes that way schools cant complain about not have money”.
Cell phones can help slot in school!First of all they can help you research something instead of haveinh to have 3-4 kids at the computer all the time.Also, during math class you should be able to pull it out and use it as a calculator. This is really helpful for a lot of students. This is why I belove cell phones should be used in schools.
hey good job it is true how teens use their phones during class time even in a lot of the hours that i passed their is about 3 to 5 people that are on their phones some people use their phones to cheat on test even to help them in class so they are not doing their class work they just use their phones i strongly support your claim you did a good job keep up the good work
Alex Alburkat 1rst hour
I think cellphones are good and bad. I think that cellphones are good because you might need them for a assignment like for example your doing a essay about who you are with Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton and you might need your cellphone to lookup information. I also think that cellphones can be bad because students can tell the teacher that I need to use my phone to lookup information and they saw yes but you end up messing around for example you can start playing games taking pictures watching sport videos and that’s what are some stuff students can do with their cellphone.
Cell phones in class can be good and bad. It could be helpful when there is not a word in the dictiomary you can look it up on your phone. It can also help to learn a new task by watching videos. On the other hand people will take advantage of using cellphones in class and use it to cheat on a test. People can also use it to cyber bully and take pictures of kids in class.
You are correct students live, sleep, and eat with their phones. I personally say that phones shouldn’t be allowed in school. One reason is that they are a big distraction.
This article had very strong points in which i agree with. However, i would like to have seen someone against bringing your cellphone to school. I personally agree that cellphones are very helpful during schools. I think that as long as students have permission by a teacher to use their phones, there shouldn’t be any issues. I also agree with Mrs. Issa about teachers setting limits because i, myself have witnessed many kids use their phones and texting when they weren’t supposed to.