In today’s world, 97% of kids ages 11-17 own their own cell phone. This device opens the door for so many benefits and opportunities, like being able to contact a trusted adult in case of emergency, or just making it easier to contact friends. But, there definitely are lots of negatives, specifically in the school environment. Most students bring their cell phones into school, which can cause many distractions from education, and makes the possibility of bullying, and children spreading rumors much higher. Because of these issues, states like Louisiana, Florida, and Indiana have enacted laws to completely ban the usage of mobile phones in schools. However, the question remains: do the negatives outweigh the positives? And should phones be completely banned in all schools?
On one side, there are many positives to bringing your phone in school. For example, students having access to their phones in school gives them the ability to call their parents or trusted adults during an emergency. People can also use their phones as a tool and as a calculator in certain academic situations. Many students that were asked if phones had a positive or negative impact in school, and some had a similar answer. Eighth grader Liam Sommer said, “ Having a phone has had a positive impact because I can text someone when I am in need of help.”
Sixth graders Tyler Hsieh and Siddharth Iyer stated, “Phones can have a positive impact if you use them at the right time.”
Tyler added, “Kids can benefit from phones because they can socialize with other kids at any time virtually, and even make friends.”
While there definitely are many positives to cell phones being allowed in school, most people would argue that the negatives outweigh the positives. For example, it is a very common problem for children to use their phones to cheat on assignments, tests, and placement exams. Sixth grader Manuel Almanzar stated, “Phones have a bad impact in school because you can cheat, and it won’t benefit you learning.”
On the other hand, just having your phone on you during classes can serve as a major distraction from learning. Studies and interviews from teachers show that just having a phone on you causes interference with your learning and can make your learning experience worse. This also causes teens to develop addictions to phones. Edison Intermediate School Student Assistance Counselor Melissa Willson said, “Phone usage has a more negative impact because it is a big distraction to check notifications. Phones also make drama spread a lot more. Rumors spread faster when people have their phones.”
In conclusion, the overall effects of phones in school environments are negative, and have a bad impact on students, and their education.
