Some call them educational, others call them distracting — we look at both sides
By Laura Selby
www.tecca.com
With great tech innovations come messy real-life dilemmas. Should police officers tweet info about emergency calls, as the Seattle Police department did for a day? Do you find the idea of adding your unborn child to your Facebook profile sweet or unsettling? The debate on what place cell phones should have in schools is no less complex. While some school districts have embraced mobile phone technology, others are struggling to manage the distractions and challenges cell phones bring to the classroom. So what, exactly, are the arguments behind both sides of the debate?
The pros
For many parents, the advantages of kids' having cell phones with them at all times outweigh any arguments on the flip side. It's convenient to be able to reach your child easily, and in the event of an emergency, it's extremely reassuring to know he could get in touch with you instantaneously. If your child is old enough to be driving, the safety rationale is extremely hard to argue with.
Proponents of cell phones in schools proffer other arguments, too, although it's worth noting that many pertain more to older students than to elementary-age kids. Supporters point to the phones as a way for kids to reach out to peers as part of the learning process. Students might call one another for help with a project or text the day's homework to a sick friend. Some argue that the phones themselves can provide scholastic worth; with educational apps available for preschoolers to high schoolers and everyone in between, there are lots of legitimate school-related ways to use a smartphone.
Finally, there's the issue of logistics and social planning. For many high school students, the idea of not having access to a cell phone sounds as challenging as it would to any adult. Older students use cell phones to keep in touch with employers, especially if they hold more than one job. They also use them to arrange transportation and keep families up-to-date on their changing plans. It's true that none of these uses requires having a cell phone in school, per se, but if you're going to need one after school, there's not much alternative.
The cons
Although the advantages to carrying cell phones may seem obvious, the downsides are no less important to consider. Parents of younger children need to consider the possibility of the phone getting damaged or lost; even if your offspring is the world's most careful child, keep in mind that he or she is surrounded by dozens of other kids, and accidents do happen.
Schools may begin to develop a more standardized approach to whether or not cell phones can be in the classroom, just as they have with other technologies.
For many teachers of older students, the cellphones as educational tools argument is completely canceled out by this unfortunate fact: Cell phones make it easy to cheat. Whether it's accessing math formulas or sending pictures of quizzes, the opportunities for academic misdeeds have exploded at schools that allow cell phones in the classroom. There have been reports of rule-breaking students texting each other to warn that a teacher or principal is approaching. Even if students aren't using the devices to cheat or wreak havoc, teachers say, cell phones are a powerful distraction.
It's also unclear what the health ramifications of heavy cell phone use may be. So far, although cell phones haven't been demonstrated to cause brain cancer, studies have shown they stimulate increased activity in the area of the brain closest to where the phone is being held. The implications of this aren't currently known, but some countries have taken steps to limit children's use of the devices. For example, in 2009, France passed legislation that outlawed the advertising of cell phones to kids under 12.
The most powerful argument against cell phone use in schools, however, is how schools handle students' use of the devices. If your school district has embraced all things mobile, the benefits of your student's having a cell phone may outweigh the disadvantages. But some schools see mobile phones' potential for distraction, cheating, bullying, and disruption as far more significant than the benefits they offer, and administrators are making rules accordingly. It's not uncommon for middle schools and high schools to ban cell phones in the classroom altogether. "My high school has a bin in the office where you can label your phone and pick it up at the end of the day," explained Ali, 16, adding, "Not many people do this."
Some schools perform random searches to see whether students are carrying phones in class. And if the device goes off during a lecture or an exam, Ali told us, the consequences can be grim. "My entire biology class got held after school one day because a phone went off during a final and no one would own up to it. Everyone found with a phone, including me, had to clean the hallways after school."
The bottom line
Schools may begin to develop a more standardized approach to whether or not cell phones can be in the classroom, just as they have with other technologies. (Calculators: yes. Transistor radios: no.) In the meantime, it's a good idea to educate yourself about the policies at your child's school before making any big decisions. Good starting points for reconnaissance include the school handbook, other parents, and your own children. And if your cell-phone-carrying child comes home late after a disciplinary school cleaning session, don't say we didn't warn you.