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Ordinarily I would say no to children having cell phones in schools. However, in this new millennium when violence in school is commonplace, children should have cell phones at school, only as a means of contacting parents in case of an emergency, and with other limited uses. Parents can be more relaxed knowing that their children are just a call away, and the sound of your child's voice when there is an emergency at his or her school is music to any parent's ear. Therefore, I am both for and against students having cell phones in schools. All cell phones should be off while in class, except for unquestionable emergencies. If the use of a cell phone during class time can save the life of someone, then by all means, let's arm students with this reach - out -and - touch tool.

The beeping sounds, and the very presence of a cell phone in use serves as an added distraction to the already distractible student. During any given lesson, once the teacher loses the momentum to get a child back on track, valuable time is lost, and her effectiveness is diminished significantly. Although a teacher who operates by the dictates of her conscience, and the specific school board guidelines , has no fear of the mighty cell phone, yet her performance can be negatively affected . Just knowing that you can be caught on camera without awareness, possibly being politically incorrect, strikes fear even in the bravest teacher. Besides the cell phone's ability to distract, it can distort. Fallen in the right hands a cell phone can be used constructively, or destructively.

The child who captures a teacher abusing a student, or a student attacking a teacher on cell phone camera, is demonstrating constructive use of this modern technology. The child who subscribe to the destructive use of this tool can choose to capture only scenes that would vindicate him in his efforts to discredit a staff member, teacher, or another student. Similarly, a student who intentionally pushes a teacher's button just so he can capture footage that would earn him the respect of his peers
is also demonstrating destructive use, and all too often they make news headlines.

Currently, most schools permit students to carry cell phones while on school premises, but require that they turn them off during class time, except in emergency situations. This seem to be a reasonable plan. However, it is apparent that, with all the just-for-fun images captured during the school day, it is obvious that school officials are having a difficult time enforcing this policy, and students are using their cell phones whenever, and where ever it please them.

Maybe it would be a great idea for schools to adopt a policy of having students check in phones upon arrival, or have an accessible pouch at the bottom of each student's desk where phones are simultaneously secured at the beginning, and released at the end of the school day, or when the alarm sounds, warning of an impending emergency.

For the the most part the negative effects the cell phone has on learning outweighs its benefits. Schools need to prioritize. Education should take precedence over everything else, except safety in schools. When teachers encounter difficulties in their effective delivery of their daily lessons, children's grades suffer. One would be remiss if the opportunity is missed to interject that there is a phone in almost every modern classroom in the United States. Therefore, cell phones should not be in the hands of students during school.

Learn more about this author, Alqueen Felix.
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