Chances are, almost everyone that you know owns a cell phone. After all, nearly three-quarters of high school students have cell phones. With such a high amount of students owning a cellphone, they should be used to their fullest potential as tools in the classroom. Unfortunately, schools are trying to take them away from students since they believe it is a distraction to their learning. While people have mixed opinions over whether cell phones should be allowed in classrooms or not, with their quick internet access and their ability to help students, cellphones are useful tools to use during school.
One example of why cell phones should be allowed in classrooms is because of their quick access to the internet. With cell phones, students can easily look up anything that they are confused about instead of having to wait for the teacher or another student’s help. This can be extremely convenient and can help get work done faster or even better.
Contrary to the reputation of distracting students, cell phones can also be used to help students focus better in classrooms. An example is that students can listen to music to help them focus on their classwork. I concentrate much better on my work when I’m listening to music. I also easily get distracted during class and listening to music is the best way for me to stay focused during class. While it may seem unimportant to some, just listening to music can be the difference between a good and bad grade.
Arguably the most important reason that cell phones should be allowed in classrooms is to contact family members. Students need to talk to parents throughout the day, and without the use of cellphones in school, students can’t keep their parents up to date with their schoolwork and after school plans. There have been occurrences where I didn’t have access to my phone and either my mom or dad would freak out and text me multiple times since I wasn’t answering. This can leave parents nervous and feeling uneasy since a lot of parents want to constantly keep up with their children and make sure that they are safe at all times.
While there are many positives to using cellphones in school, there are some negatives of it. The main complaints that teachers have with the use of cell phones during class is that they can be a distraction for students. And while I do agree that cell phones can be a distraction in class, you also have to remember that there are many other distractions in class besides cell phones. Another negative is that students can cheat with the use of cell phones. However, this can be easily avoided by simply taking phones away during tests and then returning them after it’s over.
Nothing is ever perfect and issues will continue to arise with the use of cellphones in classrooms; however, considering their many benefits, cell phones should be welcomed as a useful learning tool in class.