Banning Cell Phones in Schools
by Star Status Staff
All over the country, school districts are considering banning cell phones during school hours. Star Status asked Nottingham students and staff their opinions on the topic: if cell phones should be banned, if there are benefits to cell phones in school, and why phones should and should not be banned.
The survey received 157 responses, with the majority (61.1%) of the surveyors saying cell phones should not be banned in Hamilton Township District Schools. 15.9% of pollers said phones should be banned, and 15.3% saying phones should only be banned during some class times.
The Star Status editorial board believes that cell phones should be banned in most classroom situations. Since all students have access to a District-issue laptop, there is no reason why students need cell phones in school. Students are not disciplined eonough, nor mature enough to manage their activity on a cell phone. The downsides of students having access to cell phones in school far outweigh any benefits.
The survey received 157 responses, with the majority (61.1%) of the surveyors saying cell phones should not be banned in Hamilton Township District Schools. 15.9% of pollers said phones should be banned, and 15.3% saying phones should only be banned during some class times.
The Star Status editorial board believes that cell phones should be banned in most classroom situations. Since all students have access to a District-issue laptop, there is no reason why students need cell phones in school. Students are not disciplined eonough, nor mature enough to manage their activity on a cell phone. The downsides of students having access to cell phones in school far outweigh any benefits.
Are there any benefits to students having cellphones in school?
Anonymous (10th) “We can listen to music which helps most of us concentrate when there’s too much noise in class.”
Anonymous (Staff) “Students can research and look up information at any time.”
Anonymous (11th) “I’m the eldest sibling in my family and I’m involved in activities in the school. Without my phone I’m not able to keep track of the times I need to be places or if I’m needed at home for my siblings.”
Emilia Pierre (12th) “Yes, Yes you can listen to music, you can take pictures of notes, I’m your free time you can look at things.”
Amber Donnelly (Staff) “Yes! My students often use their cell phones to quickly research a topic that arises in class discussions, define words, etc.”
Anonymous (Staff) “No there is no benefit.”
Anonymous (10th) “Yes. Powerschool is more readily accessible, you would be notified of national, natural, and family emergencies, in case you or someone else has a medical emergency, ect.”
Caitlin Hill (12th) “Cell phones are a good alternative to using a laptop, especially if a student’s laptop isn’t charged or if they want to make a quick Google search. Phones are also used for stuff like Kahoots and similar class-participation games.”
Anonymous (10th) “We can listen to music which helps most of us concentrate when there’s too much noise in class.”
Anonymous (Staff) “Students can research and look up information at any time.”
Anonymous (11th) “I’m the eldest sibling in my family and I’m involved in activities in the school. Without my phone I’m not able to keep track of the times I need to be places or if I’m needed at home for my siblings.”
Emilia Pierre (12th) “Yes, Yes you can listen to music, you can take pictures of notes, I’m your free time you can look at things.”
Amber Donnelly (Staff) “Yes! My students often use their cell phones to quickly research a topic that arises in class discussions, define words, etc.”
Anonymous (Staff) “No there is no benefit.”
Anonymous (10th) “Yes. Powerschool is more readily accessible, you would be notified of national, natural, and family emergencies, in case you or someone else has a medical emergency, ect.”
Caitlin Hill (12th) “Cell phones are a good alternative to using a laptop, especially if a student’s laptop isn’t charged or if they want to make a quick Google search. Phones are also used for stuff like Kahoots and similar class-participation games.”
Explain why cell phones SHOULD be banned in schools.
Anonymous (Staff) “Most students cannot distinguish between an appropriate time and use for their phones. Some students, after being told to put it away, will go right back on their phones. Parents also do not understand an acceptable time either. Many parents have called their child in the middle of class disrupting everything.”
Anonymous (Staff) “Cell Phones should be banned in school because it is a major distraction in class. Students tend to watch Tik Tok videos, anime cartoons, play games etc. They often try to use their device to cheat on assessments. Students have laptops to look up information, email their parent/ guardian that they are ok in an emergency situation. In addition, Laptops can be monitored through Go Guardian software to keep students on task. Before cell phones, parents would call the main office in order to reach their child and this can still be done today.”
Anonymous (Staff) “1) They distract students from instruction and are a barrier to learning 2) They foment social issues, including physical violence and bullying 3) They are a barrier to students developing "real" connections with others through in-person, 1:1 communication.”
Anonymous (Staff) “I believe that the negatives outweigh the positives. Today's cell phones are much more powerful and dynamic than cell phones students had 5 years ago. Today's devices allow students to constantly play video games during instruction, stream Netflix movies in class, post live school fights, and set up unsupervised meets in bathrooms. Lastly, they have the ability to communicate with someone outside of the building and potentially let that person in past our security. I believe that we should also teach our students the proper uses of technology and make them aware of the dangers that exist.”
Anonymous (Staff) “Cell Phones are the #1 distraction in the classroom for students. Each school district wants to see student test scores improve, the quickest & easiest way to do that would be to have some sort of cell phone policy in place.”
Anonymous (Staff) “The district provides every student with a laptop so there is no need to have a cell phone. Students spend way too much time using their cell phones for nonacademic use. For example, playing games, making videos, texting friends in other classes, watching movies, face timing, etc...in my experience, students who are chronically engaging in these activities have lower grades, often hand in work late, & have no idea of the classroom content being taught. I constantly have to re-teach these students who have been present but too busy on their phones to pay attention. Also, with the cell use staff has no way of tracking content students are viewing. I have seen students on sites that are not school appropriate. The district laptops can be monitored to ensure the safety & appropriateness of content.”
Anonymous (Staff) “I think they should not be banned but instead there should be enforceable consequences to using the phones at inappropriate times.”
Kimberly Cordella (Staff) “During class periods, students should be required to put phones in a "hotel" as one article describes. This would allow students to focus on instruction.”
Anonymous (Staff) “Most students cannot distinguish between an appropriate time and use for their phones. Some students, after being told to put it away, will go right back on their phones. Parents also do not understand an acceptable time either. Many parents have called their child in the middle of class disrupting everything.”
Anonymous (Staff) “Cell Phones should be banned in school because it is a major distraction in class. Students tend to watch Tik Tok videos, anime cartoons, play games etc. They often try to use their device to cheat on assessments. Students have laptops to look up information, email their parent/ guardian that they are ok in an emergency situation. In addition, Laptops can be monitored through Go Guardian software to keep students on task. Before cell phones, parents would call the main office in order to reach their child and this can still be done today.”
Anonymous (Staff) “1) They distract students from instruction and are a barrier to learning 2) They foment social issues, including physical violence and bullying 3) They are a barrier to students developing "real" connections with others through in-person, 1:1 communication.”
Anonymous (Staff) “I believe that the negatives outweigh the positives. Today's cell phones are much more powerful and dynamic than cell phones students had 5 years ago. Today's devices allow students to constantly play video games during instruction, stream Netflix movies in class, post live school fights, and set up unsupervised meets in bathrooms. Lastly, they have the ability to communicate with someone outside of the building and potentially let that person in past our security. I believe that we should also teach our students the proper uses of technology and make them aware of the dangers that exist.”
Anonymous (Staff) “Cell Phones are the #1 distraction in the classroom for students. Each school district wants to see student test scores improve, the quickest & easiest way to do that would be to have some sort of cell phone policy in place.”
Anonymous (Staff) “The district provides every student with a laptop so there is no need to have a cell phone. Students spend way too much time using their cell phones for nonacademic use. For example, playing games, making videos, texting friends in other classes, watching movies, face timing, etc...in my experience, students who are chronically engaging in these activities have lower grades, often hand in work late, & have no idea of the classroom content being taught. I constantly have to re-teach these students who have been present but too busy on their phones to pay attention. Also, with the cell use staff has no way of tracking content students are viewing. I have seen students on sites that are not school appropriate. The district laptops can be monitored to ensure the safety & appropriateness of content.”
Anonymous (Staff) “I think they should not be banned but instead there should be enforceable consequences to using the phones at inappropriate times.”
Kimberly Cordella (Staff) “During class periods, students should be required to put phones in a "hotel" as one article describes. This would allow students to focus on instruction.”
Explain why cell phones SHOULD NOT be banned in schools.
Anonymous (Staff) “I cannot as I think they should be banned. They district students, make teachers jobs much more difficult, and are not needed.”
Ionna Mill (10th) “Everything online and some kids do not have computers. Things are better offline but since everything is online we have no choice but to use our phones when either we don't have a charger or it's dead.”
Gary Meinhardt (Staff) “They are tools that can be used for research, calculation, and professional communication, even when laptops are available. They are also more mobile than laptops. As I previously explained, I use it regularly while working in and out of school for appropriate, professional reasons and fully understand the benefits of having it available. As long as students are directed as to the appropriate way of utilizing phones in the classroom through teacher classroom management, I believe students can make the appropriate decisions regarding cell phone use.”
Anonymous (11th) “I think when it comes to teenagers, cell phones are disregarded as unnecessary and a distraction. But for many, our cell phones are necessary to help us easily keep track of our lives. A teacher's phone would never be banned because they have children and family duties, and— from my perspective at least— this is the same for students. We’re responsible for a lot of things between siblings, extracurriculars, and working. Yes they can be a distraction, but everything is digital now and we need our phones for this reason.”
Amber Donnelly (Staff) “Cell phones are integral to students' and teachers' lives, so the earlier we all establish processes for using them appropriately within the school setting, the better we'll all be.”
Camila Rodriguez (10th) “I don’t think they are that big of a deal. Some teachers have their own rules for phones and that’s fine but not letting anyone do it doesn’t make much sense.”
Anonymous (12th) “Students get more stressed and upset if they don't have access to a phone at times.”
Anonymous (11th) “Cell Phones should not be banned in school because it could help some students focus better, complete their work, have quick contact with a family member or emergency number, and have information at their fingertips.”
Cynthia Peer (Staff) “I do not think a complete ban is ever possible, but definitely there needs to be a "rule" to have students put them away for class time when they need to listen to instruction, WRITE down notes, or actively participate! Which should be almost EVERY day!”
Kimberly Cordella (Staff) “During non-instructional periods, like lunch or hallway pass time, students could have the opportunity to check-in with parents (since that seemed to be a bulk of the parents' complaints) and reply to friends.”
Anonymous (10th) “Cell phones shouldn't be banned because not everyone is glued to their phone during class, plus, there's people who would bring it anyway, some people have family issues and emergencies that they wouldn't be aware of if they didn't have a phone. You can also check powerschool on your phone, which is more easily accessible than opening your laptop which would typically be in your backpack. Also, if you get your work done in class, you wouldn't really have that much to do if you didn't have your cellphone on you.”
Anonymous (Staff) “I cannot as I think they should be banned. They district students, make teachers jobs much more difficult, and are not needed.”
Ionna Mill (10th) “Everything online and some kids do not have computers. Things are better offline but since everything is online we have no choice but to use our phones when either we don't have a charger or it's dead.”
Gary Meinhardt (Staff) “They are tools that can be used for research, calculation, and professional communication, even when laptops are available. They are also more mobile than laptops. As I previously explained, I use it regularly while working in and out of school for appropriate, professional reasons and fully understand the benefits of having it available. As long as students are directed as to the appropriate way of utilizing phones in the classroom through teacher classroom management, I believe students can make the appropriate decisions regarding cell phone use.”
Anonymous (11th) “I think when it comes to teenagers, cell phones are disregarded as unnecessary and a distraction. But for many, our cell phones are necessary to help us easily keep track of our lives. A teacher's phone would never be banned because they have children and family duties, and— from my perspective at least— this is the same for students. We’re responsible for a lot of things between siblings, extracurriculars, and working. Yes they can be a distraction, but everything is digital now and we need our phones for this reason.”
Amber Donnelly (Staff) “Cell phones are integral to students' and teachers' lives, so the earlier we all establish processes for using them appropriately within the school setting, the better we'll all be.”
Camila Rodriguez (10th) “I don’t think they are that big of a deal. Some teachers have their own rules for phones and that’s fine but not letting anyone do it doesn’t make much sense.”
Anonymous (12th) “Students get more stressed and upset if they don't have access to a phone at times.”
Anonymous (11th) “Cell Phones should not be banned in school because it could help some students focus better, complete their work, have quick contact with a family member or emergency number, and have information at their fingertips.”
Cynthia Peer (Staff) “I do not think a complete ban is ever possible, but definitely there needs to be a "rule" to have students put them away for class time when they need to listen to instruction, WRITE down notes, or actively participate! Which should be almost EVERY day!”
Kimberly Cordella (Staff) “During non-instructional periods, like lunch or hallway pass time, students could have the opportunity to check-in with parents (since that seemed to be a bulk of the parents' complaints) and reply to friends.”
Anonymous (10th) “Cell phones shouldn't be banned because not everyone is glued to their phone during class, plus, there's people who would bring it anyway, some people have family issues and emergencies that they wouldn't be aware of if they didn't have a phone. You can also check powerschool on your phone, which is more easily accessible than opening your laptop which would typically be in your backpack. Also, if you get your work done in class, you wouldn't really have that much to do if you didn't have your cellphone on you.”