Cell Phones at School: Should They Be Allowed?

by Maya Cohen

The question of whether cell phones should be allowed in schools has been hotly debated over the years. Most school administrations regard cell phone use as disruptive and distracting, and have implemented policies that prohibit using them on school grounds. There are benefits to giving your kids cell phones for use outside of school, but before you add them to your family plan, read the pros and cons:

The Pros

• You can be in touch with your children, and know their whereabouts.
• Your kids can reach you in the event of an emergency, and vice versa.
• If in danger, your children can reach the authorities or a medical provider.
• Phones can be silenced during class or study periods, and active only in appropriate places.
• Cell phones create a convenience that was previously unavailable. With cell phones, you can easily reach your kids for any reason: to ask them questions, change plans, or to simply say hello.

The Cons

• Students often forget to turn off their phones in class, and ringing noises or text-message alerts disrupt learning.
• Even if set to silent, cell phones can still cause distraction, since text messaging has become a high-tech method of passing notes in school.
• Students have been known to use cell phones to call in bomb threats to schools, to avoid or condense class time.
• In the event of a widespread crisis, rampant cell phone use can overload communication systems and render them inoperable.
• Student cell phone networks add to the spread of rumors and misinformation, which can be harmful during a widespread crisis.
• Phones can be used as cheating devices during exams.
• The long-term physical effects of cell phone use are still undetermined.

There are compelling arguments on both sides of the debate, and both enthusiasts and critics make convincing points. What do you think? Take our poll:

POLL: Should schools allow cell phones?

In fact, the real decision regarding cell phones lies with parents. Short of checking each and every backpack, school officials can only enforce cell phone bans if they catch a student with a prohibited device. Would you allow your child to bring a cell phone to school? Share your opinion in our poll:

POLL: Would you allow your child to take a cell phone to school?