Should Cell Phones be Banned in Classrooms?

“Cell phones can be audio recorders, digital video camcorders, still cameras, note-taking devices, calculation devices, scheduling and management tools, phone conferencing devices, Internet researching tools, faxing and scanning devices, blog and Web page editors, or even audio assessment recorders.” said Liz Kolb. Technology is an amazing tool. Most of us have computers that can do almost anything in our pockets or purses, but should they really be used in an educational setting? First off, while almost all school age children have cell phones not all of them can perform the above task. So requiring students to use cell phones in class is still impractical.

While cell phones are incredible little computers they are also great distractions for students. Even if a teacher allowed cell phones in the classroom for school work students would use them to text and surf the web. According to Kolb, “Teachers who are concerned that cell phones will be distracting inside the classroom can set up a social contract with their students defining the structure and rules around cell phone use in the classroom.” Today’s students could not control the temptation that their best friend or boy friend was a few buttons away. I don’t believe that teachers could conduct an effective lesson if students had full access to their cell phones.

“I am all for the proper integration of as much technology as possible into our classrooms. I am, however, absolutely, fully, totally against cell phone use as a teaching tool.” said, Josh Allen. I am one hundred percent on board will Josh Allen’s perspective. The purpose of a cell phone is to be able to be contacted when you are away from home. However, when students are in school their parents can contact them through the school secretary in case of an emergency and students can verbally talk to their friends during passing time and lunch.

“The goal of an educational setting should be to give students the proper tools to succeed once they step into society.” (Allen) Today’s students are practically born with a cell phone in their hand. There is nothing about a cell phone that a teacher is ever going to teach a student. Teachers would have more success if students taught them about cell phones. Due to this factor cell phones have no place in the classroom. “Nothing that you can do on a cell phone will inspire students as they make their way into the world. I cannot think of a job where “cell phone operation” was a skill. Employers are much more concerned about a student’s computing and critical thinking skills than their phone skills.” (Allen) Our purpose as educators is to provide students with the best skills for the future and those skills would only be hindered if cell phones were allowed in the classroom.