by Paul Shymanski

Created on: April 19, 2010   Last Updated: April 21, 2010

     I do not think students should have cell phones in school.  In reading over many sites on the subject I find there are many seemingly great reasons to use them.  If that is the case then why would I side on the no side of this argument?  It is easy.  I am basing my opinion on what I see in my real situation.  The school I teach in is for an economically challenged population.  Many students do have a cell phone, but many of them do not or they have it turned off more than they have it activate.  They could use some of the features of the phone even when they are not using a phone plan for sure.  I really like the potential of many of the uses and would like to get there some day.  The problem is, we are not there yet.  What about the majority of students who have no phone at all?  Simple.  The other students will make fun of them and call them poor.  They already do it about clothes and will do it for sure if they can not do what the student with phones can do.  I see lots of problems with them being in the building.  Many of my students have ADHD and if that phone is on them they are certain to be looking to use it and be off task.  Just because they like something is not a good enough reason to use it when ever they want.

     The other reason is that I am just not sure this is the end product.  In fact I know it is not.  About five years ago I had to write a paper for a class about how PDAs would be in every school and how great they would be.  Well it was the same argument.  Most of the capabilities were the same as the cell phone argument.  I have never seen a student in any school I was in using a PDA.  Many more have cell phones, but not all of them.  I am sure there are schools that do have close to 100% ownership, but not where I work.  To me this shows PDAs missed the boat, and cell phones are getting closer, but it might not be until the next tool or the one after that.  After all the iPad just came out and isn't ready yet.  We will have to see where that takes us, and what is after that.

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