Should Cell Phones be Allowed in Schools

Imagine being at the mall and you are almost running late on time. You walk up to the cashier and decide to take out your phone to use Apple Pay when the cashier tells you that it is no longer allowed. You then realize that you brought no cash or other payment methods on you and you're now both angry and running late on time. If you were able to use Apple Pay, it would have saved you time and allowed you to buy the items. This scenario can relate to many students in schools today. Currently, students are prohibited from using cell phones in classes by teachers or schools. Some teachers don't realize the benefits of allowing students to use their cell phones in classrooms. In fact, numerous numbers of teachers believe that cell phones are a huge distraction. However, students believe that cell phones can benefit them and that they should be able to use them in school. Hence, cell phones should be allowed in school because they can help both disabled and nondisabled students learn by using innovative sites and apps.

To commence, cell phones should be allowed in schools because they can help students become engaged in their work or lessons. The article, “Screens in the Classroom: Tool or Temptation?” shows a study that states, “a digital backchannel increased the overall number of questions asked in a class with little evidence of the backchannel promoting distractions in class” (Luongo 4). This study shows how students can use a backchannel on their phones to enhance their learning further and while doing so, they stay engaged in the lesson with little to no distractions. As a matter of fact, this can be a major benefit to students in schools today only if they had access to cell phones. Furthermore, cell phones can help level the noise level and concentration in classrooms. The article, “Cell Phones in School Pros and Cons: What Both Sides Think“ interviewed a veteran teacher who said, “Some teachers allow students to listen to music through headphones while completing individual assignments. The noise level in the classroom goes down, and the work amount goes up when you let them listen to their music” (Hopkins). This quote by the veteran teacher shows the result of letting students listen to their music on their cell phones. Ultimately, when students listen to music, they become more concentrated on their work and music helps them do so. When each student becomes concentrated on their work, there will be less noise and more work being done. In addition, letting students use cell phones to listen to their music can benefit both the teachers and the students. When the students are quiet, they can be focused and on task, giving the teachers a quiet workspace to help out other students without interruption of noise. Continuing, apps and sites on cell phones that make learning fun and a better experience can help students learn while having fun. In the article, “Cell Phones in School Pros and Cons: What Both Sides Think” Pew research conducted a search that reports, “Many teachers now incorporate smartphones into their lessons to harness this innate interest. Popular uses include developing podcasts and scavenger hunts for the class, incorporating educational and organizational apps, including video and photo assignments, and much more“ (Hopkins). This research shows how teachers now incorporate cell phones into their lessons to make them more fun. In doing so, teachers are upping the total number of students that are interested in the lesson and the overall engagement. Overall, teachers including cell phones in their daily lessons can benefit students due to the overall increase of interest and fun students have. This increase is due to the use of innovative sites and apps.

Subsequently, students with special needs can use cell phones in schools to help them get through the day. The document, Use of Mobile Technology in the Classroom, states, “A mobile device can be considered assistive technology (AT) for some students with disabilities. For example, research supports the use of an iPad as a speech-generating or communication device for students with autism. [Additionally,] students with disabilities are more likely to use a mobile device and feel less stigmatized than if they were carrying an AT device” (“Mobile” 1).  This quote explains that students with special needs can use ipads or cell phones to help them get through their normal school day. Also, the document said that special needs students were more comfortable using a mobile device than using a real assistive technology device. The reason behind this is that special needs students feel less disparaged when using cell phones rather than using real AT devices. More or less, students with special needs need cell phones in their daily lives in school to learn and grow as a student. Furthermore, cell phones can help these students learn and grow but if schools continue to prohibit cell phones, they can ultimately ruin the futures of kids with special needs. Furthermore, special needs students are using technology that helps them at a much earlier age. According to the article, “Screens in the Classroom: Tool or Temptation?” Arianna Esposito the director of life span said, “students on the autism spectrum use smartphone-enabled augmented technology and other applications at a much earlier age than ever before, and as those students age out, and enter college, they have developed new study skills and they have used cognitive behavior support that helps them be successful in the classroom” (Luongo 4). This quote by Arianna Esposito describes how technology that helps students with special needs is being used at a much earlier age than ever. Therefore, schools should allow cell phones in schools since special needs students depend on them at a much earlier age and if they do not receive permission to use them in schools, their success could be at stake. Lastly, students with special needs are going to school at a much higher rate than ever before. In the article, “Screens in the Classroom: Tool or Temptation?” a university of Kansas professor said, “students with disabilities are definitely attending at a higher rate than in the past… [and] universities need to make education accessible in real-time [to counter this]” (Luongo 5). Accordingly, schools need to decide to allow cell phones in schools because if schools start to allow cell phones, students with special needs can have an easier time learning and communicating making school a place for all people to learn.

In conclusion, schools should allow the use of cell phones. Even though some teachers believe that cell phones can be a distraction and affect the learning of students in a negative way, the evidence supports that cell phones can be used beneficially to enhance the learning of students. Adding on, schools have to also think about students with special needs. School is meant to be a place for all types of kids to learn and special needs students might need to use cell phones to help them learn. In general, different places have to stop prohibiting things that can benefit all types of people. If Apple Pay was accepted in the mall, you would have been able to buy your items and get to the place you needed to be on time.

Work Cited

Hopkins, Brittany. “Cell Phones in School Pros and Cons: What Both Sides Think.” The Flag, 22 Apr. 2021, theflag.org/glossary/cell-phones-in-school-pros-and-cons-what-both-sides-think/.

Musti-Rao, S. & Walker, Z. (2017). Use of mobile technology in the classroom. Retrieved from: 

council-forlearning-disabilities.org/infosheets-supporting-translation-of-resea

rch-to-practice. 

Luongo, Michael T. "Screens in the Classroom: Tool or Temptation?" New York Times (Online), 

11 Dec 2019. SIRS Issues Researcher, 

explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2335325851?accountid=6811

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