Should We Allow Cell Phones In The Classroom?

What on earth is the purpose of our children having a cell phone in the classroom. For that matter, do teachers need phones in the classroom as well?

We send our kids to school to learn, not to chat on the phone. We pay our teachers to do a job, teach our children, not to worry about who is trying to get ahold of them during class time.

As I see it, cell phones are little less than a nuisance in the classroom. A distraction that disrupts both the teachers ability to effectively teach, and our kids ability to effectively learn.

I can see that safety or medical school personel carrying a cell phone, but not any teacher or instructor that is on our kids time in class.

Kids should have use of their phones on their personal time, for needs such as making travel arrangements and what not, but not during their learning time.

I heard from one of my friends children that a new ringtone, which is not audible to adults, but only to children has now been developed. Where will it stop?

My feeling is that if a kid gets caught with a phone in the classroom, their parents should be fined. Increasing infractions should result in larger fines, to suspension and perhaps even expulsion. If kids cant respect this, and simply dont care to learn in a classroom, let them find another place to "hang out".

Teachers shoud receive disiplinary action as well. Fines and misconduct reports may do just the trick. If a teacher dont want to teach, perhaps they would be suited to some other occupation.

The classroom is a place of learning, not telephone conversations and what ever media teachers and childeren have access to over their cell phones. Kids need to learn, and teachers need to teach. After all, isnt that what we expect out of our tax dollars?
19,905 views 46 replies
Reply #1 Top
Kids need them after school, to call their parents to pick them up from after-school activities, from friends houses, etc. Parents would certainly want to be able to reach their children, even track them, when they aren't in school. The problem isn't the phones in school, it is the kids using them.

So long as they are turned off, there should be no problem with a kid having a phone in school.
Reply #2 Top
Okay going with what Baker said, the kids should hand their phones in at the office then and pick them up on the way out?


I agree they should not be allowed in the class room - on the kids, however....in light of the attacks on schools by gunmen etc and some of the stories we have heard here on Ju about lock downs, teachers should have cell phones for such instances - to be used only at those times to keep in contact with police or something..
Reply #3 Top
I don't really see what the uproar is. Especially about fining parents. If a child is distracting the class, the teacher should be doing something about it. If the child isn't paying attention, the same.

IMHO, if a teacher has to tell a child more than once to put a phone away, she didn't do her job the first time.
Reply #4 Top
Thing is they do a lot of texting one another and the teacher does not always see it, they are a distraction.
Reply #5 Top
Then they fail. If something is so hard to notice that the teacher misses it, I doubt it is bothering the other kids much. If the kids want to waste their time, let them.

I don't see being draconian about things like that. The teacher's job is to put the material out there, and make sure the classroom is a good learning environment. I think we've gone way to far trying to mandate success.

It isn't possible, and kids won't learn the skills they need that way. If they fek off, they fail, no different than in college or in their future jobs. If they are taught at an early age there will be someone snapping their fingers at them to make sure they are paying attention, then life will be unfair to them from now on.
Reply #6 Top
Cell phones serve a very useful purpose for the child and parent. They are useful in emergencies and for whatever important reason the child or parent need to contact each other. I see no problem with them as long as they follow the rules with them, such as having them off during class time.

As for teacher use, well, I'm a teacher...and we would be disciplined at my campus if we used cell phones during instruction time (we already have regular phones for campus and teacher to parent use). We are to have them turned off...and are only allowed to use them during our breaks (lunch-30 min, and conference time-45 min).

However, we are still encouraged to have cellphones for emergency use (such as for lockdowns, school evacuations, etc....in case we need to contact our students' parents or our own loved ones).



Reply #7 Top
I'll give you a good example of when cell phones did prove to be useful at school:

We had a storm back in September, with bad winds and rain, during school hours. Power and phone service was knocked out.
There were throngs of parents coming to pick up their kids (which really didn't make sense, since it was more dangerous to take them out during the storm, but I digress).

The kids who didn't have parents picking them up were scared and wanted to talk to their parents...and the only way they were able to do this was by borrowing the teachers' cell phones.

Again, as long as a child (or teacher) is following the school rules of cell phone use, there should be no problem. If they aren't following the rules, every district should have disciplinary steps in their handbook sto deal with it.
Reply #8 Top
The problem isn't the phones in school, it is the kids using them.


Fair enough on this note. I'm only wondering how much authority a teacher would have. From what I see a bit of, is kids not listening to, or abiding by the authority of their teachers. Complicating matters even more, is I notice parents seem to be at odds with teachers these days. For some reason, they just don't seem to see eye-to eye. Should a teacher be able to confiscate a phone from a non-abiding student, ahd have the studen pick up his/her phone from the office later on in the day?

So long as they are turned off, there should be no problem with a kid having a phone in school.


Agreed.
Reply #9 Top
The answer to both your questions is - no.
Kids shouldn't have 'em in school and neither should the teachers.
As for getting in touch following after school activities, well that's just utter rubbish - parent, find out what time it finishes and then make sure you're there to pick them up, simple really.
Reply #10 Top
in light of the attacks on schools by gunmen etc and some of the stories we have heard here on Ju about lock downs, teachers should have cell phones for such instances - to be used only at those times to keep in contact with police or something..


I guess I was a bit lame in describing what I meant. I do understand teachers having their cells in the classroom for emergencies for the better part. But on the other hand, isnt there an intercom in each classroom today, as there was when I was a kid in school? If so, what purpose would the cell serve?

Thing is they do a lot of texting one another and the teacher does not always see it, they are a distraction.


Better yet, what are they texting? Answers to quizes and tests?

Reply #11 Top
IMHO, if a teacher has to tell a child more than once to put a phone away, she didn't do her job the first time.


If you instruct your child, and she/he fails to follow your directions, what do you personally do? Would you allow the teacher the same?
Reply #12 Top
If the kids want to waste their time, let them.


If the kids want to waste their time, let them do it at home. School is not really a place to waste time, is it? When one kids wasted time interferes with another kids learning, special circumstances might be in order for the offender; such as sending them from the classroom to waste the offices time.

The teacher's job is to put the material out there, and make sure the classroom is a good learning environment.


And to simply eject those that corrupt that good learning environment.

The kids who didn't have parents picking them up were scared and wanted to talk to their parents...and the only way they were able to do this was by borrowing the teachers' cell phones.


I agree, but do kids need to call their parents for rides during classtime? If so, it amazes me how we ever got along before cells existed.

It isn't possible, and kids won't learn the skills they need that way. If they fek off, they fail, no different than in college or in their future jobs.


I see college as an entirely different situation. A college student is "of age" and responsible for his/her own post secondary learning, while minor a minor childs learning is the responsibility of the parents and those the parents rely on.

If they are taught at an early age there will be someone snapping their fingers at them to make sure they are paying attention, then life will be unfair to them from now on.


Im confused here. Are you saying that a child needs no disaplin/"finger snapping"? If so, how does this help later on in life?

Reply #13 Top
I see no problem with them as long as they follow the rules with them, such as having them off during class time.


Agreed
Reply #14 Top
As for getting in touch following after school activities, well that's just utter rubbish - parent, find out what time it finishes and then make sure you're there to pick them up, simple really.


I'm sorry cind, but I simply cannot agree with you here. The cell is a great innovation when used well. I think it's a great tool for parents and children. It allows a child a bit more freedom, while at the same time helps parents keep better track of there kids in a busy world.

Cells in school are OK, but not in the classroom. Teachers, well they need to use descresion, just as folks do in any other occupation.
Reply #15 Top
Do you spend any time in schools? I'm there about every day when it is in session. If a child misbehaves they are removed to the hall, or the office, or home. If the child won't go, they call the counselor, principle, etc., to have the child removed.

I don't know what the situation you are talking about wherein teachers can't take phones that are being abused, remove kids from class, etc. Maybe if you had examples.

"I agree, but do kids need to call their parents for rides during classtime? "


Who said they did? Again, if kids are talking on the phone during class then the teacher isn't paying enough attention. If they are caught, they should have no opportunity to distract again.

"Im confused here. Are you saying that a child needs no disaplin/"finger snapping"? If so, how does this help later on in life? "


No, I don't believe it is the teacher's job to discipline a child. Every minute they spend doing so is a minute taking away from instruction. Kids that distract should be removed and let administration or parents deal with them, and if that doesn't work they should be expelled.

Again, I'd need to see what you are upset about, really. Do you have a child in school? Are you a teacher? What exactly is the root of your complaint?

"As for getting in touch following after school activities, well that's just utter rubbish - parent, find out what time it finishes and then make sure you're there to pick them up, simple really."


And aren't you glad all those parents that you disagree with aren't there to tell you what YOU "make sure" you should do. I wouldn't imagine everything is as clear and reasonable as you make it out to be.

Reply #16 Top
I am with Bakerstreet on this, if parents can't fix their kid's mronic and boorish attitude towards school it isn't tthe teachers job to try and do it. Kid wants to screw off in class to hell with them. We always need burger flippers and car wash attendants.
Reply #17 Top
I don't know what the situation you are talking about wherein teachers can't take phones that are being abused, remove kids from class, etc. Maybe if you had examples.


Yeah, my ex had a fit when the teacher took my daughters phone from her. I dont see that as being reasonable. Thats a 2 for one answer.

Who said they did?


The thesis is "cells in the classroom". You mentioned kids using a teachers phone. I figured you were speaking in context of the articles thesis. Perhaps I erred.

No, I don't believe it is the teacher's job to discipline a child.


You are contradicting yourself here Baker, or so it seems to me:

Kids that distract should be removed and let administration or parents deal with them, and if that doesn't work they should be expelled.


I assume the teacher is sending these distracting children out to the hall or whatever. Isnt that a disiplinary action?3

Do you have a child in school?


Yes, I do.


Are you a teacher?


While I do have a teaching credential, I am not a teacher. Are you?

I'm there about every day when it is in session.


Are you in a classroom that is in session almost every day? If you are, and are not instructing, wouldnt that be a distraction as well?

What exactly is the root of your complaint?


HHmmm, I believe I have mentioned more than once the cause of my complaint, though no complaint was implied in the article itself: The classroom is for teaching and learning, not to be wasted on students or teachers using a cell phone. To me its simply a waste of tax dollars, and deters from any progressive education (as any distraction would be).
Reply #18 Top
"
I assume the teacher is sending these distracting children out to the hall or whatever. Isnt that a disiplinary action?"


Nope, that's removing a distraction. When you toss a bum out of a bar are you "disciplining" them? Parental responsibility shouldn't be imposed on the teacher. Teachers don't have the time to both teach kids their curriculum and how to behave at the same time.

I don't believe the government has any role in teaching kids to "behave" anyway, and if they do they'll just screw it up like they screw up everything else.

"The classroom is for teaching and learning, not to be wasted on students or teachers using a cell phone."


Yeah, what I was wondering was what gave you the idea that this is a huge problem. I'm wondering where teachers and students are using them in class. I don't ever believe removing privileges because inept teachers can't discipline the troublemakers in the minority.

To frame it in the same way as gun control, phones don't distract people, their owners do by misusing them.
Reply #19 Top
Nope, that's removing a distraction. When you toss a bum out of a bar are you "disciplining" them?


I'm sorry, I cant connect an adult (bum in a bar) to a child (being kicked out of a class), but, yes, I do see a child being sent from the classroom for disrupting the class, a form of disaplin. It seems the same to me as a parent sending their kid to their room for disrupting normal family affairs.

I don't believe the government has any role in teaching kids to "behave" anyway, and if they do they'll just screw it up like they screw up everything else.


The fact is that the government does in fact have a role indisaplining all of america, and does.

Yeah, what I was wondering was what gave you the idea that this is a huge problem.


Gottcha. I'm not all that certain that its a huge issue, but one worth mentioning. Im staying at a buddies house over the holidays, and one of their older kids showed me this new ringtone that children can hear, but we adults cannot. I was a bit more disturbed when I saw the nature of the text messages she had saved from in the classroom: Messages concerning partying, sexual connotation, answeres to a quiz etc. This to me is more than a slight disruption.

To frame it in the same way as gun control, phones don't distract people, their owners do by misusing them.


And we do not allow guns in the classrom either, as far as I know

Reply #21 Top
thats interesting - the ring tones Xythe. Just goes to show where there is a will there is a way, they will use their phones if they have them on them.
Reply #22 Top
"The fact is that the government does in fact have a role indisaplining all of america, and does."


LOL... wow. That's quite a statement. Unless you are equating child rearing to the penal system, I dunno really how there's any correlation. If you want kids treated like criminals, by all means, institutionalize them and teach them that the government is in control of their lives.

Reply #23 Top
I taught for a bit, and the cell phones were a complete pain in the fundament.

The school's solution was, if they had their cell phone out in class or it went off, it was confiscated and they had to go to the office and pay 15 bucks to get it back. For multiple offenses, the school could also hang on to it for lengthening periods of time.

It didn't stop them from bringing them, but man was it nice to see some of the disrespectful assclowns faces when you took their phones away. Not to say that they were all rude and disrespectful, but it sure as hell wasn't the polite ones playing with their phones in class.

Actually what usually worked best was the drill sergeant approach. Start out on total lock down, when you began working with a class, then back off by degrees. Send the worst offenders straight to the principal's office at the outset. Whenever you started out by being overly nice, they'd walk all over you. You might as well have had "Welcome" printed on your forehead.
Reply #24 Top
thats interesting - the ring tones Xythe. Just goes to show where there is a will there is a way, they will use their phones if they have them on them.


Not if they are not in the classroom
Reply #25 Top
If you want kids treated like criminals, by all means, institutionalize them and teach them that the government is in control of their lives.


No, just keep their cell phones out of the classroom. Thats all.

Besides, you seem to have no problem equating cell phones, the topic of this article with gun control and bums in bars.

But seriously now folks.