Over the course of the past few years, more schools have been implementing cell phone bans, deeming them distractions in the classroom. However, some students believe that cell phones have extreme benefits in schools and they should continue to be able to use them.
One student, Arshia Mittal (11), vocalized her opinion about the cell phone bans in schools.
“I think cell phones should stay in school because of emergencies and it is inconvenient at times if you don’t have your phone on you,” Mittal said.
Not only does she believe cell phones are important for emergencies, but she also believes that they directly contribute to her success in the classroom.
“…I make all of my study plans and schedules on my phone.” Mittal said.
While most would expect students to advocate for cell phones in the classroom, Mittal notes how her teachers also understand the benefits of cell phones as well.
“In APUSH, we used our cell phones during a simulation to learn about issues in South Carolina,” Mittal said.
Mittal is fully aware of the benefits that cell phones have, and noted the inconveniences in her life without them.
“It would just make scheduling more inconvenient because I plan everything on my phone and I wouldn’t be able to keep track of all my assignments and things I have to do,” Mittal said.
Another student, Bijoux Whitney (11), also described her concerns regarding cell phone bans.
“If there was a fire or a school shooting and I didn’t have my phone, I might not be able to get in contact with my mom…I would also be concerned about staying in contact with my family members if they were stuck in an emergency,” Whitney said.
Whitney believes that her safety could potentially be compromised if she does not have her cell phone, so she further emphasized the benefits of cell phones in schools regarding emergencies.
“I do believe that cell phones should remain in schools since, in today’s society, emergencies happen at a much higher rate and families and kids should be able to stay in contact with each other,” Whitney said.
However, aside from just emergencies, Whitney described the benefits of cell phones that contribute to academic success as a whole.
“…teachers often ask students to use their phones to help them complete assignments. Cell phones can also help us check our grades after a test or to finish assignments if the power or wifi goes out in class,” Whitney said.
Whitney noted how cell phones benefit her life, and described how her experiences in the classroom would be changed without them.
“A cell phone ban would negatively impact my life by giving me a lot of anxiety and fear surrounding my safety at school,” Whitney said.
Many students in schools believe that the cell phone’s contributions to academic success and ability to maintain contact with others during an emergency are benefits of cellphones in schools, and schools should allow students to keep using them.
