The Great Debate: Is it wise to allow

cell phone use in school?

One of the most contentious issues separating students and school administrators is the usage of cell phones in
classes. Most students would like to see cell phones completely allowed in classes, giving them freedom to text
their friends. The administration and teachers maintain that this would significantly affect students attention in
class and have previously instituted a blanket ban on cell phones being used in class, taking the device away
from anyone caught using one in school. Recently, an attempt at balance has been instituted, with teachers
granted the freedom to decide whether the use of phones is acceptable at various times in class. This has led to
students being allowed to conduct research on phones in classes, but the debate still continues, as students
would like to see more freedom in cell phone usage, while some administrators desire a return to more
draconian measures.

By Sophie Davies
Veritas Contributing Writer
For:
Oftentimes throughout history, we humans have deprived ourselves of learning tools that, in the end, were
proven to be much more helpful than harmful. For example, when the calculator was first introduced, teachers
did not allow them. Not just on specific tests, or in younger grades that were less experienced with math, but
for everyone. Instead, teachers insisted that students use a slide ruler. This particular math tool is so outdated,
that I doubt half of you reading this had even heard of a slide ruler before I mentioned it. At that time, all
teachers truly believed it was an important skill to be able to use one. Time, however, has proven how
preferable the calculator is over the slide ruler.
I understand that teachers do not ban cellphone use in the classroom without cause. They do not do it simply to
be mean. It is not that they are opposed to us socializing, its more that they are opposed to anything that will
distract their pupils from learning the important lessons that they are trying to teach. It is their job to prepare us
for college and to expand our minds. This means making sure we are involved in the class, and comprehending
what they are saying. Teachers do not allow us to talk in class, so it may seem that phones should, indeed, be
banned.
However, in banning the phones, we deprive students from many valuable resources that are easily accessible.
Apps have been developed, specifically designed to assist students in the classroom. These can help with a
variety of things students often struggle with. There are countlessmostly freeapps devoted to help you
remember your homework, and upcoming projects, so youll never miss a due date. Most are designed to send
you reminders of when a due-date is approaching, so you will never forget. Some help with time-management,
allowing you to plan ahead for a big project, creating a schedule for you that split up the amount of work to an
even amount each day. This gives you a structured format, making it easier to stay on-track. Having reminders
sent straight to your phone (which for many could be a main source of procrastination) is also a helpful push in

the right direction. At the very least, itll make you feel slightly guilty about putting off a project you know you
must get done. Organization is one of the top problems facing most teenage students.
It is also unfair for students to be kept from contacting their parents. I for one, receive at least four messages a
day from my mother and father, regarding many topics, from a reminder that they will be late, to a last-minute
doctors appointment that was made in the middle of the school day. In the case of the latter, at least, being
unable to get this text can make matters complicated. A parent will turn up at the school, expecting their child
to be ready for them (parents dont seem to understand the concept that phones are not allowed in school,
perhaps even less than students do) and to their surprise, the student is still in class. The parent then needs to
go to the office, check what class theyre in, and call. All this wastes a lot of time, time that does not have to be
wasted. In this way, phones are very often important to use for texting.
Finally, no matter what steps teachers may take to try to exterminate in-class texting entirely, there is no way to
ever completely stop it. A Wilkes University study shows that nine out of every 10 students text in class,
regardless of whether or not they are allowed to. Ninety-nine percent of students believe that cell phones
should be allowed in class, 95 percent already bring theirs to class, and 65 percent believe that texting should
be allowed in class, as long as it is not disrupting the learning environment for fellow students. If teachers find
it impossible to control the use of cellphones in their classes, they may as well incorporate them into their
lessons, or at least allow them to be used. How much and how well they use their cell phone should be at the
discretion of the students. Overall, there is much more help than harm that could come from the use of cell
phones during school hours.

By Mia Silverio
Veritas Features Editor
Against:
In most ways, recent advancements in artificial intelligence providers, such as computers, tablets, and smart
phones, have bettered our lives. However, there are certain places, such as in an academic environment, where
the existence of these providers are not always welcome. The discussion over the rightful place of these
technologies has sparked much controversy. Most people feel strongly about this subject, partly because it is
almost strictly two-sided. Either the existence of the providers is tolerable in school, or they should be kept at
home.
This issue has been juggled by schools around the world, struggling with the main pro-cell phone argument:
that phones are essential to a students safety. Should, however, a potential aid in student safety condone a nolimitations policy on smart phones? Although most students do possess mobile phones, a legitimate percentage
still do not. Should the safety of children without cell phones be declared inferior to those who do have cell
phones at school? Should the school still be held accountable for the protection of the student? Depending on
the schools policy regarding phones, would their overall level of safety differ?
The United Nations estimates that there are around 4.1 billion cell phone subscriptions around the world.
Recent studies have raised concerns regarding mobile phone links to cancer. Over one third of drivers admit
that they have texted while driving. Even though the general public is aware that over 6,000 deaths are caused

as a result of distracted driving, as well as the fact that talking on a phone while driving can make ones
reaction time as slow as that of a 70-year-old. Even though these statistics are well advertised, the public is not
observing different cell phone use habits. Mobile devices have become such an integral part of daily life that it
is difficult to stop using them, even in potentially dangerous situations. This conclusion can be relayed to the
debate over the existence of cell phones in schools and used to promote the argument against cellular device
use. For example, if the simple action of talking into a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle can decrease
ones reaction time to that of a 70-year-old, one can imagine how the more complex act of texting would
devastate a students ability to concentrate.
The allowance of cellular devices in school elicits atrophies of concentration and promote many discouraged
behaviors, such as cheating and cyber bullying. In the event that a teacher does not see a student on his/her
phone, students can transfer answers to assessments via instant messaging without the proctor noticing. This
form of cheating is very difficult to prevent unless the school practices a no tolerance cell phone policy.
The recent anti bullying laws passed this year should add another argument to reinforce the frontier against
phones. In addition to laptops where students can access social networking sites where most bullying takes
place, phones are an easy way to quickly assist the transmittal of information through the student body during
the school day. In a recent study, journalist Charlie Osborne found that cyber bullying tends to increase in line
with mobile phone usage. Preventing teenagers from being on their phones during school hours will decrease
the risk of cyber bullying noticeably.
Certain arguments allege that allowing teenagers to use their smart phones in school will alleviate the pressure
at home to buy expensive calculators that most advanced mathematics classes require. Although there are apps
that will suffice if a student needs a scientific calculator, a fully functional graphing calculator available on an
iPhone or android device has yet to be released. One of the main issues with the inability to put a graphing
calculator on an iPhone is the amount of power that a smartphone generates is not enough to adequately
provide for graphing functions, so certain aspects of the calculator would be horribly slow. Plus, in many
schools, the student teacher ratio is not small enough to allow the teacher to confidently ascertain that all
students are not just browsing the Internet on their phones. A no-tolerance cell phone policy would also lessen
the workload of a teacher, who could focus on relaying information, instead of hunting for students who are
texting.
Conclusively, modern innovations are helpful and worth utilizing, but in an appropriate environment. The extra
work that comes with a free cell phone policy is not fair to teachers and other students who are trying to learn.
The claim that cell phones are necessary in event of an emergency is not enough reason to butcher the
academic progress of students and promote cyber bullying and cheating. If you are in school and not learning,
why should you be in school?