In recent years, a recurring topic in classrooms has been the use of phones at school. While many teachers are relatively laid-back about their opinions about phone use, others aren’t as lenient.
The consensus is that your phone is okay to have as long as it doesn’t distract you or others. The St. Louis High School student handbook states, “Students are not to use cell phones during instructional minutes, unless the teacher is permitting the use during a learning activity. Student cell phones may be used before and after school and also during passing time and lunch.”
Phones can have both cons and pros in school. For instance, having a phone means contacting your parents without the hassle of having to go to the office and call them. It is also a good accessory to class, whether as a calculator, a schedule maker, or an alternative when students don’t have their Chromebooks.
However, phones are also most commonly referred to as a distraction. As previously mentioned, some schools today have gone as far as banning students from bringing their phones to school. For reference, Lily Altaven mentioned in the article titled, “What You Should Know About School Cell Phone Bans in Michigan Before School Starts,” how, “Numerous Michigan school districts from Flint to East Lansing have adopted policies limiting mobile phone use in the classroom and even school hallways in recent years. School administrators say devices are ultimately distracting and can even pose safety risks, with some students eager to record fights and other calamities.”
Furthermore, teachers themselves even have strong opinions on the use of phones in school. For example, teacher Scott Nehmer shared, “I think everyone should take those phones outside, throw them on the ground, and run them over.” He further mentioned, “If you’re done with your work, then I don’t care, but I hate when parents come to me complaining about their kids failing but all students do is sit on their phones in class. I just hate phones in general.”
