cell phones should not be allowed in schools essay

Featured Topics

Featured series.

A series of random questions answered by Harvard experts.

Explore the Gazette

Read the latest.

World appears on track for even more dangerous Cold War 2.0

Outside of the U.S., how do leaders view Harris and Trump?

Your side might lose. But you don’t have to lose your mind.

Do phones belong in schools.

iStock by Getty Images

Harvard Staff Writer

Bans may help protect classroom focus, but districts need to stay mindful of students’ sense of connection, experts say

Students around the world are being separated from their phones.

In 2020, the National Center for Education Statistics reported that 77 percent of U.S. schools had moved to prohibit cellphones for nonacademic purposes. In September 2018, French lawmakers outlawed cellphone use for schoolchildren under the age of 15. In China, phones were banned country-wide for schoolchildren last year.

Supporters of these initiatives have cited links between smartphone use and bullying and social isolation and the need to keep students focused on schoolwork.

77% Of U.S. schools moved to ban cellphones for nonacademic purposes as of 2020, according to the National Center for Education Statistics

But some Harvard experts say instructors and administrators should consider learning how to teach with tech instead of against it, in part because so many students are still coping with academic and social disruptions caused by the pandemic. At home, many young people were free to choose how and when to use their phones during learning hours. Now, they face a school environment seeking to take away their main source of connection.

“Returning back to in-person, I think it was hard to break the habit,” said Victor Pereira, a lecturer on education and co-chair of the Teaching and Teaching Leadership Program at the Graduate School of Education.

Through their students, he and others with experience both in the classroom and in clinical settings have seen interactions with technology blossom into important social connections that defy a one-size-fits-all mindset. “Schools have been coming back, trying to figure out, how do we readjust our expectations?” Pereira added.

It’s a hard question, especially in the face of research suggesting that the mere presence of a smartphone can undercut learning .

Michael Rich , an associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and an associate professor of social and behavioral sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, says that phones and school don’t mix: Students can’t meaningfully absorb information while also texting, scrolling, or watching YouTube videos.

“The human brain is incapable of thinking more than one thing at a time,” he said. “And so what we think of as multitasking is actually rapid-switch-tasking. And the problem with that is that switch-tasking may cover a lot of ground in terms of different subjects, but it doesn’t go deeply into any of them.”

Pereira’s approach is to step back — and to ask whether a student who can’t resist the phone is a signal that the teacher needs to work harder on making a connection. “Two things I try to share with my new teachers are, one, why is that student on the phone? What’s triggering getting on your cell phone versus jumping into our class discussion, or whatever it may be? And then that leads to the second part, which is essentially classroom management.

“Design better learning activities, design learning activities where you consider how all of your students might want to engage and what their interests are,” he said. He added that allowing phones to be accessible can enrich lessons and provide opportunities to use technology for school-related purposes.

Mesfin Awoke Bekalu, a research scientist in the Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness at the Chan School, argues that more flexible classroom policies can create opportunities for teaching tech-literacy and self-regulation.

“There is a huge, growing body of literature showing that social media platforms are particularly helpful for people who need resources or who need support of some kind, beyond their proximate environment,” he said. A study he co-authored by Rachel McCloud and Vish Viswanath for the Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness shows that this is especially true for marginalized groups such as students of color and LGBTQ students. But the findings do not support a free-rein policy, Bekalu stressed.

In the end, Rich, who noted the particular challenges faced by his patients with attention-deficit disorders and other neurological conditions, favors a classroom-by-classroom strategy. “It can be managed in a very local way,” he said, adding: “It’s important for parents, teachers, and the kids to remember what they are doing at any point in time and focus on that. It’s really only in mono-tasking that we do very well at things.”

Share this article

You might like.

Pulitzer winner warns China, which is building nuclear arsenal, would be third major player besides U.S., Russia — and six other nations now have bombs, too.

Weatherhead panelists offer insights on geopolitical stakes of presidential election

Political engagement is healthy. Doomscrolling? Not so much.

What happened when a meteorite the size of four Mount Everests hit Earth? 

Giant impact had silver lining for life, according to new study

Does academic writing have to be boring?

English professor, journalist says first step to better prose is being aware that no one has to read you

How to fight depression? Faster.

Hope flags when medications fail, isolating and endangering patients. Backed by a major grant, 2 Harvard scientists are focused on reducing the distance between diagnosis and recovery.

Why Schools Should Ban Cell Phones in the Classroom—and Why Parents Have to Help

New study shows it takes a young brain 20 minutes to refocus after using a cell phone in a classroom

Photo by skynesher/iStock

Parents, the next time you are about to send a quick trivial text message to your students while they’re at school—maybe sitting in a classroom—stop. And think about this: it might take them only 10 seconds to respond with a thumbs-up emoji, but their brain will need 20 minutes to refocus on the algebra or history or physics lesson in front of them— 20 minutes .

That was just one of the many findings in a recent report from a 14-country study by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) that prompted this headline in the Washington Post : “Schools should ban smartphones. Parents should help.” The study recommends a ban on smartphones at school for students of all ages, and says the data are unequivocal, showing that countries that enforce restrictions see improved academic performance and less bullying.

It’s a fraught debate, one that prompts frustration among educators, who say students are less focused than ever as schools struggle to enforce cell phone limitation policies, and rage from some parents, worrying about a possible shooting when they can’t get in touch, who insist they need to be able to reach their children at all times. And, perhaps surprisingly, it prompts a collective yawn from students.

In fact, students openly admit their cell phones distract them and that they focus better in school without them, says Joelle Renstrom , a senior lecturer in rhetoric at Boston University’s College of General Studies. It’s an issue she has studied for years. She even performed an experiment with her students that supports what she long suspected: Cell Phones + Classrooms = Bad Learning Environment.

BU Today spoke with Renstrom about the latest study and research.

with Joelle Renstrom

Bu today: let me get right to the point. do we as a society need to be better about restricting cell phones in classrooms it seems so obvious..

Renstrom: Of course. But it is easier said than done. It’s hard to be consistent. We will always have students with some kind of reason, or a note from someone, that gives them access to technology. And then it becomes hard to explain why some people can have it and some people can’t. But student buy-in to the idea is important.

BU Today: But is getting students to agree more important than getting schools and parents to agree? Is it naive to think that students are supposed to follow the rules that we as parents and teachers set for them?

Renstrom: I have made the case before that addiction to phones is kind of like second-hand smoking. If you’re young and people around you are using it, you are going to want it, too. Every baby is like that. They want to reach for it, it’s flashing, their parents are on it all the time. Students openly acknowledge they are addicted. Their digital lives are there. But they also know there is this lack of balance in their lives. I do think buy-in is important. But do it as an experiment. Did it work? What changes did it make? Did it make you anxious or distracted during those 50 minutes in class? I did that for years. I surveyed students for a number of semesters; how do you feel about putting your phone in a pouch? They made some predictions and said what they thought about how annoying it was. But at the end, they talked about how those predictions [played out], and whether they were better able to focus. It was very, very clear they were better able to focus. Also interestingly, not a single student left during class to get a drink or go to the bathroom. They had been 100 percent doing that just so they could use their phone.

BU Today: Should we be talking about this question, cell phones in classrooms, for all ages, middle school all the way through college? Or does age matter?

Renstrom: It’s never going to be universal. Different families, different schools. And there is, on some level, a safety issue. I do not blame parents for thinking, if there’s someone with a gun in school, I need a way to reach my kids. What if all the phones are in pouches when someone with a gun comes in? It’s crazy that we even have to consider that.

BU Today: What’s one example of something that can be changed easily?

Renstrom: Parents need to stop calling their kids during the day. Stop doing that. What you are doing is setting that kid up so that they are responding to a bot 24-7 when they shouldn’t be. If you’re a kid who gets a text from your parent in class, you are conditioned to respond and to know that [the parent] expects a response. It adds so much anxiety to people’s lives. It all just ends up in this anxiety loop. When kids are in school, leave them alone. Think about what that phone is actually meant for. When you gave them a phone, you said it’s in case of an emergency or if you need to be picked up in a different place. Make those the parameters. If it’s just to confirm, “I’m still picking you up at 3,” then no, don’t do that. Remember when we didn’t have to confirm? There is a time and place for this, for all technology.

BU Today: This latest study, how do you think people will react to it?

Renstrom: This isn’t new. How many studies have to come out to say that cured meat is terrible and is carcinogenic. People are like, “Oh, don’t tell me what to eat. Or when to be on my phone.” This gets real contentious, real fast because telling people what’s good for them is hard.

BU Today: I can understand that—but in this case we’re not telling adults to stop being on their phones. We’re saying help get your kids off their phones in classrooms, for their health and education.

Renstrom: Studies show kids’ brains, and their gray matter, are low when they are on screens. School is prime habit-forming time. You should not sit in class within view of the professor, laughing while they are talking about World War II. There is a social appropriateness that needs to be learned. Another habit that needs to be addressed is the misconception of multitasking. We are under this misconception we all can do it. And we can’t. You might think, I can listen to this lecture while my sister texts me. That is not supported by science or studies. It is literally derailing you. Your brain jumps off to another track and has to get back on. If you think you have not left that first track, you are wrong.

BU Today: So what next steps would you like to see?

Renstrom: I would like to see both schools and families be more assertive about this. But also to work together. If the parents are anti-smartphone policy, it doesn’t matter if the school is pro-policy. If there is a war between parents and schools, I am not sure much will happen. Some kind of intervention and restriction is better than just ripping it away from kids. The UNESCO study found it is actually even worse for university students. We are all coming at this problem from all different ways. Pouches or banned phones. Or nothing.

Explore Related Topics:

• Smartphones
• Share this story
• 45 Comments Add

Associate Vice President, Executive Editor, Editorial Department Twitter Profile

Doug Most is a lifelong journalist and author whose career has spanned newspapers and magazines up and down the East Coast, with stops in Washington, D.C., South Carolina, New Jersey, and Boston. He was named Journalist of the Year while at The Record in Bergen County, N.J., for his coverage of a tragic story about two teens charged with killing their newborn. After a stint at Boston Magazine , he worked for more than a decade at the Boston Globe in various roles, including magazine editor and deputy managing editor/special projects. His 2014 nonfiction book, The Race Underground , tells the story of the birth of subways in America and was made into a PBS/American Experience documentary. He has a BA in political communication from George Washington University. Profile

Comments & Discussion

Boston University moderates comments to facilitate an informed, substantive, civil conversation. Abusive, profane, self-promotional, misleading, incoherent or off-topic comments will be rejected. Moderators are staffed during regular business hours (EST) and can only accept comments written in English. Statistics or facts must include a citation or a link to the citation.

There are 45 comments on Why Schools Should Ban Cell Phones in the Classroom—and Why Parents Have to Help

i found this very helpful with my research

It was ok, but i will say i enjoyed learning more about why we should not have cell phones.

in think they should not be banned

kaiden I feal the same.

It was a great research, helped me a lot.

true it is vary helpful for reasearch

I think that this was helpful, but there is an ongoing question at my school, which is, though phones may be negative to health and knowledge and they’re a distraction what happens if there was a shooting or a fire or a dangourus weather event and you don’t have a phone to tell your parents or guardians at home if you are alright? (Reply answer if have one)

Yeah they would get an amber alert

well, the school has the technology that can help communicate that to the parents, and if that were to happen, I guess that’s why there’s always a cell phone in the classrooms those old-time ones, but I feel it would not be okay in case of a shooting since you have to go silence, and on the moment of fire or weather everything happens so fast in the moment.

Yeah, that’s exactly why they have those supplies or items in the classroom, to alert parents. Kids don’t need to use their phones for that.

In schools all teachers have cell phones. So one way or the other the messages would get out to the parents as needed. If a student gets on the cell phone to inform the parent about the activity, that’s taken place it could cause panic. School staffs are informed as to how to handle such situations.. what I have seen take place in classes are students who are texting each other either in the same room or in another classroom during the school time. Many students spend time on YouTube and not concentrating what’s going on in the classroom.

Teachers have communication with all parents and it also has amber alerts

You just give the kids watches to call there parents or guardians on.

I’m a teacher. If there’s an event like this, it could be detrimental to the emergency system if too many people are calling. Also, kids don’t have the common sense to turn their ringers off. They go off in my class, more often than they should.. If there’s a shooter in any school, parents are going to be calling their kids. Phones constantly going off could lead a shooter to specific places if they can hear them. I understand the parent’s arguments as to why they want their kids to have their phones, but that very argument could lead to their child being hurt or killed in the scenario mentioned above.

the school can handle that and already have methods in place to keep the students safe in case of any emergency and can contact the parents when necessary. This also happens very rarely. The latter is better because you already have the methods of contacting the parents and keeping the students safe and they never really have the need to do that because of the rarity of emergencies that need parents’ involvement.

I guess you could just keep your phone in your backpack, keep it silenced, and when you seriously have an emergency you could take it out and use it

I think that this was helpful, but there is an ongoing question at my school, which is, though phones may be negative to health and knowledge and they’re a distraction what happens if there is a shooting or a fire or a dangerous weather event and you don’t have a phone to tell your parents or guardians at home if you are alright?

I am writing a paper and this is very helpful thank you.

I am writing a paper and this is very helpful but it is true what if our mom or dad have to contact us we need phones!

this helped me with my school project about whether cell phones should be banned in school. I think yes but the class is saying no. I think it’s because I was raised without a phone so I know how to survive and contact my parents without a phone. but anyway, this helped me with my essay! thank you!

yes i’m am doing the same thing .this helped a lot

I don’t think phones should be allowed in school, and this is perfect backup! Thank you Doug

great infromation for debate

Thanks, this helped a lot I’m working on an essay and this has been really helpful.by the way, some people may think, but what if i need to call my mom/dad/guardian. but the real thing is, there is a high chance that there will be a telephone near you. or if it’s something that only you want them to know,go ahead and ask your teacher if you can go to the office.

I mean it could also depend on the student, like for example let’s say that i’m a student inside the school, if I used my phone and I got off it, for me it would instant focus, but for others students they might take longer or the same time as me, it all really depends if the student is tend to be responsible with their time trying to focus so I would say that this claim is not true.

I think that is article was very good. I’m currently writing and essay and I have used this for most of my evidence so far. I personally think that cellphones should be banned from the classroom because the school will get the information that your parents need out to them so you don’t have to cause a panic because you don’t know if your parents know what is going on at your school or not. It will just be better because then we wouldn’t have as many distractions in the classrooms as we do now because kids are always getting caught on their phones and they are constantly being sent down to the office and it takes time to get the class back on track. I personally agree with Doug that cellphones should be banned in the classrooms.

It’s striking to realize that the reason some parents feel the need to advocate for phone usage in school is due to concerns about a potential school shooting. While parents may be more informed about the harmful effects of smartphones in a learning environment, they take preference for the safety of their child in a hypothetical situation. It’s a hard debate because while the safety of their children is important, the drastic effects of students needing 20 minutes to refocus is significantly impacting their ability to learn in their classes. I find it very saddening that this is what our world has come to – prioritizing safety for a school shooting over academic performance, because it is no longer so unusual for a school to experience that type of tragedy.

I liked the comment, “Addiction to phones is kind of like second-hand smoking. If you’re young and people around you are using it, you are going to want it too,” because I experienced this phenomenon in my early middle school years, with the invention of the first iPhone. All of a sudden an invention that was broadcasted on the news became an essential for the other students in my middle school class, to the point where I became one of the only students without one. Then, I finally succumbed to the pressure, and begged my parents for an iPhone as I felt extremely left out. It’s frustrating to accept that this pressure is affecting children now younger and younger by the year, with even six year old children I babysit owning their own iPhone/iPad.

I also think that with the prevalence of child phone usage significantly increases parental anxiety, particularly for those parents who are already overbearing to start. Giving parents the ability to contact their child at any given time is harmful, and it can create a dependence on either side. It’s ironic given the fact that parents push their children to focus and succeed in their classes, yet harass them all day about minuscule things that could’ve been addressed later that day. So yes, parents need to stop calling their kids during the day.

this helped me with my school project, very reliable source.

I think that this talked more about why parents should help more than why cell phones should be banned.

I think the teachers or guardians will allow you to contact someone but I think after the shooting or crisis they will contact your parents or guardian from the office or person in charge

I agree, I’m 13 and I honestly could live without a phone

i also agree but parents need to reach their kids somehow if something happens in school

I’m also 13

had to research this for an assingnment and onistlly, I love my phone and I would marry it if I could!

This is really reasonable. In my school my friends have cell phones and there is a lot of drama. I am writing a report on this.

This is really good

I’ve taught high school since 1999. Should cell phones be banned? 100% Absolutley. I don’t think twice about it.

this was a little helpful but i still need my phone in school

for what you need your education your phone doesn’t teach you stuff

very helpful for me but I do think that we should still have phones in school. my daughter has a phone and she says that at some point the schools need to think about the safety of children. she is ten yrs old and one day when she almost forgot her phone but she remembered and grabbed but a homeless man came up to her asking her if she wanted some food and good thing she had her phone because she called me crying saying that the schools say no phones but I grabbed it today anyway and I almost got kidnapped

i dont agree i think my kids should be allowed to have there phones.

I think that we should ban phones because they will over rely.

it is based on the students themselves many students can have a mass interruption and refocus in seconds

Yeah and what if after school you are trying to locate your mom or dad but you can’t because you can’t find them or see their location.

This was a great resource for a project I am doing. thanks!

Post a comment. Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest from BU Today

Love to shop, but on a budget these 22 retailers and apps offer student discounts, who won free tickets to see venom: the last dance, guide to commonwealth ave shops, dining, and spots, pov: distrusting election results we’ve been here before, the weekender: october 24 to 27, bu women’s rugby club prides itself on inclusivity as popularity soars, dance as protest, from ireland to the levant, idea con returns to bu bigger and better than ever, five places to visit (in addition to salem) to get in that true halloween spirit, groping cases are up, liquor violations down, in bu’s 2023 security report, apple pecan spice muffins, bu talent on display in venice, italy, exhibitions, there’s now a new low-cost emergency contraception vending machine on the medical campus, unlock your career potential: tips and tools to land your next internship or entry-level job, 10 costume ideas for halloween 2024, “too many balls” had too little foresight, bu undergrad helps hurricane victims as a red cross volunteer, bu students head to paris to compete in international synthetic biology competition, bu rowers eager to compete in annual head of the charles regatta, seven-month strike ends as bu graduate workers union ratifies contract.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Student Opinion

Should Schools Ban Student Phones?

More and more states are cracking down on students’ use of cellphones. Are these restrictions fair? Can they work?

By Jeremy Engle

As students around the United States head back to school, many are encountering a new reality — bans on their use of cellphones.

So far this year, several states have passed laws, issued orders or adopted rules to bar students from using their phones during school hours as concerns rise over their mental health. Officials point to the potential damage that access to social media and an “always online” culture may do to children.

Further, proponents of such restrictions argue that the small but ubiquitous digital devices distract students, impair learning and contribute to phone-related bullying and student fights.

What do you think?

How would you and your peers react to a cellphone ban at your school? Could a no-phone rule work? Would it be fair? Would you welcome or oppose it? Or, perhaps, does your school already have a ban?

In “ Why Schools Are Racing to Ban Student Phones ,” Natasha Singer writes:

Cellphones have become a school scourge. More than 70 percent of high school teachers say student phone distraction is a “major problem,” according to a survey this year by Pew Research . That’s why states are mounting a bipartisan effort to crack down on rampant student cellphone use. So far this year, at least eight states have passed laws, issued orders or adopted rules to curb phone use among students during school hours. The issue isn’t simply that some children and teenagers compulsively use apps like Snap, TikTok and Instagram during lessons, distracting themselves and their classmates. In many schools, students have also used their phones to bully, sexually exploit and share videos of physical attacks on their peers. But cellphone restrictions can be difficult for teachers to enforce without schoolwide rules requiring students to place their phones in lockers or other locations. Now state lawmakers, along with some prominent governors , are pushing for more uniform restrictions in public schools.

Ms. Singer discusses the question of whether school phone bans work:

Teachers say that phone bans in the classroom have helped improve students’ ability to concentrate on their lessons and work in groups. Some schools have also found the bans decreased phone-related bullying and student fights. Even so, the bans could have limited effect on the larger problem of technology in the classroom. Some students use school-issued laptops or tablets in their classes for much of the school day, with diversions like YouTube or video games one click away. Studies have found that laptop use in the classroom can have a distracting, negative impact on student learning. Students have also used school devices to bully their peers. Bark, a risk-monitoring service that scans students’ school-administered Google and Microsoft accounts, said in July that it had documented more than 8.5 million cases of school cyberbullying on Google Docs since 2019 — and more than half a million cyberbullying cases involving students on Microsoft Teams.

The article also explores how students and parents feel about the bans:

Many parents used to freely texting or calling their children object to blanket cellphone bans. Although 70 percent of parents agree that cellphone use among students should be “banned during class,” more than half think students should be allowed to use their phones “sometimes,” such as during lunch or recess, according to a survey this year by the National Parents Union. Some students also object to bans on a device they rely on to take notes in school, photograph class assignments like art work or make plans to meet their friends during lunch. Critics have said cellphone bans could also disproportionately harm students with adult responsibilities, such as after-school jobs or taking care of ill relatives.

Students, read the entire article and then tell us:

Should schools ban cellphones? Would you welcome a ban at your school? Why or why not? Did anything in the article change your thoughts about the growing trend?

How widespread is cellphone use at your school? How much do you use your phone during the school day? Do you think that phones interfere with your or your peers’ academic learning, the quality of your social interactions or overall engagement in school?

Which benefits of the restrictive cellphone policies discussed in the article do you find most appealing?

The article notes that some students object to bans on devices they rely on to take notes in school, take pictures of class assignments like artwork or make plans to meet their friends during lunch. Do you agree? Which downsides of school cellphone restrictions described in the article concern you most?

What rules, if any, does your school have about cellphone use? How are they enforced? Do you think they are effective? What changes would you recommend to the current policy?

In the Morning newsletter , David Leonhardt, who is broadly in favor of cellphone restrictions, poses some hard questions about these policies, such as: “How do schools enforce the rules? And what is an appropriate punishment for breaking them? Should schools ban phone use only during class time or for the entire school day? To put it another way, is a more social lunchtime worth the downside that parents can’t easily reach their children?” How would you respond to these queries?

What, if anything, do you think is missing from this conversation? What do you think teachers, educators and parents may not understand about cellphones, especially how young people use them?

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.

Find more Student Opinion questions here . Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate these prompts into your classroom.

Jeremy Engle joined The Learning Network as a staff editor in 2018 after spending more than 20 years as a classroom humanities and documentary-making teacher, professional developer and curriculum designer working with students and teachers across the country. More about Jeremy Engle

• Entertainment
• Environment
• Information Science and Technology
• Social Issues

Home Essay Samples Information Science and Technology Cell Phones

Reasons Why Cell Phones Should Not Be Allowed in Schools

Table of contents, distraction from learning, negative effects on academic performance, disruption of classroom dynamics, social isolation and impaired communication skills, promoting a focused learning environment, conclusion: balancing technology and education.

*minimum deadline

Cite this Essay

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below

• Computer Hacking
• 3D Printing
• Digital Era
• World Wide Web

Related Essays

Need writing help?

You can always rely on us no matter what type of paper you need

*No hidden charges

100% Unique Essays

Absolutely Confidential

Money Back Guarantee

By clicking “Send Essay”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement. We will occasionally send you account related emails

You can also get a UNIQUE essay on this or any other topic

Thank you! We’ll contact you as soon as possible.

Why Students Should Not Be Allowed to Use Their Cellphones in Class? Essay

Introduction.

The job of a teacher is both highly rewarding and demanding. Educators need to dedicate their efforts, knowledge, time, and passion to their work in order to do it in a truly productive way and reach the most positive outcomes. However, this profession is also quite stressful: students may be ill-disciplined and inattentive, which leads to distractions during classes. Ironic as it is, the greatest of such diversions occur due to technological development.

Cellphones, which were devised to offer people more mobility and convenience, have become the nightmare of professors because their students are constantly distracted during lectures and seminars. Even though one may receive an important message occasionally, it seems that the use of cell phones should be forbidden during classes.

The major reason why mobile phones should not be allowed in class is that they distract students from their primary goal and duty: obtaining an education. According to research, young people check their mobiles every 15-20 minutes (Kamenetz). Taking into account the average duration of a class, it is possible to conclude that each learner gets distracted at least 3-4 times. Consequently, much significant information is missed out, leading to further misunderstanding of the topic or even the whole subject.

Thus, students should not use their cell phones in order to increase their learning abilities and enhance their understanding of the issues learned. Scholarly research indicates that the heavy use of smartphones is directly related to lower-quality sleep and lower GPAs (Kamenetz). Since the purpose of education is to make young people smarter and more knowledgeable, it is obvious that cellphones constitute a serious obstacle in the way to gaining knowledge and learning valuable information. Some subjects may be easier to catch up with, but there are complicated studies that require full-time attention and presence.

Thus, it is necessary to limit the number of times students should be allowed to use their devices at schools, colleges, and universities. It is crucial to create the most comfortable conditions for learners, but they frequently abuse the right to convenience. Every student should realize that personal life should not affect educational achievements. Moreover, it is quite often that students do not solve any serious problems with their family or other close ones, merely browsing social websites or checking the news. Therefore, the limited use of cell phones during classes would be beneficial for learners: they would spend all their time concentrating on the new material rather than diverting their attention from important issues.

Another problem associated with the use of cell phones in classes is that professors cannot reach the highest outcomes of their work. There are many types of classes, as well as various kinds of student work, each of which demands proper attention and dedication on the part of not only the teacher but also students. Educators whose students constantly get distracted feel stressed out and do not consider themselves content with their work. According to the study performed by professors at the University of Colorado Boulder, over three-fourths of undergraduate students admit texting during classes (Kamenetz).

Furthermore, such in-class texting is connected with the average drop of “half a letter grade” in a course (Kamenetz). It is viable to note that professors suffer not only from students’ disrespectful behavior towards them but also from learners’ poor achievements. Therefore, the second reason why cell phones should be banned during classes is closely associated with the first one, but it is more teacher-centered. Poor results prevent learners from participating in group or class activities effectively. For instance, a student that missed some important information because of using a smartphone during a lecture will not be able to contribute to a project as well as his or her peers who were attentive.

Since teachers’ job is giving knowledge to students, the former become upset when the latter pays little or no attention to them. Thus, professors try to come up with solutions to the problem of using cell phones in classes. One of the proposed approaches, made by Doug Duncan, is offering a participation point for turning off a mobile phone and leaving it on the professor’s desk during the class (Kamenetz). Thus, it is possible to find creative solutions for the problem, and some professors already work in this direction.

At the same time, there are scholars that disapprove of taking cell phones away from students. A research psychologist at California State University, Larry Rosen, notes that “simply incentivizing” learners to turn off their phones is not a good idea (Kamenetz). Rosen remarks that taking away the phone does not reduce the level of distraction. Students keep thinking about all the messages and notifications they are probably missing, which leads to stress and anxiety.

To prove his point, Rosen performed some experiments which indicated that students’ heart rate and other vital signs increased when they heard their mobiles ring but were not able to answer them (Kamenetz). Thus, Rosen argues that keeping cellphones in learner’s sight but out of their reach intensifies anxiety, which leads to distraction. Instead, the researcher suggests making “tech breaks” at measured intervals to allow students check on their devices and reduce anxiety (Kamenetz).

Rosen suggests starting with a fifteen-minute interval and gradually moving to a thirty-minute period without students looking at their cellphones. Although this idea sounds good, it seems that the overwhelming problem of smartphone dependence has reached too serious a point. It seems that strict measures are necessary not only for reducing students’ distraction levels but also for teaching them not to be so attached to their mobiles.

People that abuse the use of applications and social media tend to be less concentrated in all spheres of life: in the shops, while driving a car, or even when communicating with their children. Therefore, helping individuals to cope with their dependence at a student age can promote their better understanding of real values in the future. Thus, the suggestion made by Duncan is more helpful than the one made by Rosen.

While a student may occasionally receive an important message during a class, the majority of cases when learners check their cellphones are associated only with checking updates and browsing social websites. Therefore, students should not be allowed to use these gadgets during their classes. Getting distracted leads to poor academic results and can prevent one from finding a good job in the future.

Moreover, since research indicates that the level of anxiety increases when a cellphone is taken away for a short time, it is crucial to train students to be less dependent on their devices. Thus, finding solutions to this problem is a better idea than keeping learners use their phones only because they feel bad without them.

Kamenetz, Ania. “ How to Get Students to Stop Using Their Cellphones in Class. ” National Public Radio . 2015. Web.

• Inappropriate Behaviors in Students
• Prejudice and Discrimination Among Students
• The Cellphone: The History and Technology of the Gadget that Changed the World
• "The Myth of Multitasking" by Rosen: Rhetorical Analysis
• Michael Rosen's "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" Book
• High School Dropouts and Their Reasons
• School Student Property Searches Without Warrants
• Schools and Parents' Fight Against Cyberbullying
• Partnerships Concepts: Interview Transcription
• School Uniforms: Conflicting Viewpoints
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2021, June 18). Why Students Should Not Be Allowed to Use Their Cellphones in Class? https://ivypanda.com/essays/why-students-should-not-be-allowed-to-use-their-cellphones-in-class/

"Why Students Should Not Be Allowed to Use Their Cellphones in Class?" IvyPanda , 18 June 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/why-students-should-not-be-allowed-to-use-their-cellphones-in-class/.

IvyPanda . (2021) 'Why Students Should Not Be Allowed to Use Their Cellphones in Class'. 18 June.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Why Students Should Not Be Allowed to Use Their Cellphones in Class?" June 18, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/why-students-should-not-be-allowed-to-use-their-cellphones-in-class/.

1. IvyPanda . "Why Students Should Not Be Allowed to Use Their Cellphones in Class?" June 18, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/why-students-should-not-be-allowed-to-use-their-cellphones-in-class/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Why Students Should Not Be Allowed to Use Their Cellphones in Class?" June 18, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/why-students-should-not-be-allowed-to-use-their-cellphones-in-class/.

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

• Basic site functions
• Ensuring secure, safe transactions
• Secure account login
• Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
• Remembering privacy and security settings
• Analyzing site traffic and usage
• Personalized search, content, and recommendations
• Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

• Remembering general and regional preferences
• Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy .

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy .

Home — Essay Samples — Information Science and Technology — Cell Phones — Using Cell Phones in School: Analysis of Pros and Cons

Using Cell Phones in School: Analysis of Pros and Cons

• Categories: Cell Phones Technology in Education

About this sample

Words: 848 |

Published: Sep 5, 2023

Words: 848 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Table of contents

Access to information and communication, enhanced learning opportunities, drawbacks and challenges, promoting digital literacy for responsible use.

Cite this Essay

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below:

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Prof Ernest (PhD)

Verified writer

• Expert in: Information Science and Technology

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

1 pages / 642 words

2 pages / 1018 words

3 pages / 1425 words

1 pages / 430 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Cell Phones

The evolution of cell phones has been one of the most remarkable technological advancements of the modern era. From their humble beginnings as large, bulky devices with limited capabilities to the sleek, multifunctional [...]

During the 1990s, cell phones began to emerge into the world. They were big boxes that were similar to the cell phone line which is used in modern day. They had huge antennas and were heavy for people to carry around. This was [...]

In today's digital age, cell phones have become an integral part of our daily lives, including in the classroom setting. The debate over whether cell phones should be allowed in schools has been ongoing, with proponents arguing [...]

Functional analysis is a psychological tool used to understand why people behave the way they do. It comes from behavioral psychology. Basically, functional analysis believes that all behavior is learned and serves some sort of [...]

Cell Phones should be Included in the school experience because the cell phone is an extremely powerful tool; along with the purpose of school being to prepare the newest generation for the future, It is the school’s job to [...]

Cell phones first appeared in the world one day in the 90s. It was a bulky box very similar to the regular phone line we use today. It has equally large antennas and is heavy and cumbersome to carry. It was just the beginning. [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free