The Great Debate: Is it wise to allow cell phone use in school?One of the most contentious issues separating students and school administrators is the usage of cell phones in classes. Most students would like to see cell phones completely allowed in classes, giving them freedom to text their friends. The administration and teachers maintain that this would significantly affect students attention in class and have previously instituted a blanket ban on cell phones being used in class, taking the device away from anyone caught using one in school. Recently, an attempt at balance has been instituted, with teachers granted the freedom to decide whether the use of phones is acceptable at various times in class. This has led to students being allowed to conduct research on phones in classes, but the debate still continues, as students would like to see more freedom in cell phone usage, while some administrators desire a return to more draconian measures.BySophie DaviesVeritas Contributing WriterFor:Oftentimes throughout history, we humans have deprived ourselves of learning tools that, in the end, were proven to be much more helpful than harmful. For example, when the calculator was first introduced, teachers did not allow them. Not just on specific tests, or in younger grades that were less experienced with math, but for everyone. Instead, teachers insisted that students use a slide ruler. This particular math tool is so outdated, that I doubt half of you reading this had even heard of a slide ruler before I mentioned it. At that time, all teachers truly believed it was an important skill to be able to use one. Time, however, has proven how preferable the calculator is over the slide ruler.I understand that teachers do not ban cellphone use in the classroom without cause. They do not do it simply to be mean. It is not that they are opposed to us socializing, its more that they are opposed to anything that will distract their pupils from learning the important lessons that they are trying to teach. It is their job to prepare us for college and to expand our minds. This means making sure we are involved in the class, and comprehending what they are saying. Teachers do not allow us to talk in class, so it may seem that phones should, indeed, be banned.However, in banning the phones, we deprive students from many valuable resources that are easily accessible. Apps have been developed, specifically designed to assist students in the classroom. These can help with a variety of things students often struggle with. There are countlessmostly freeapps devoted to help you remember your homework, and upcoming projects, so youll never miss a due date. Most are designed to send you reminders of when a due-date is approaching, so you will never forget. Some help with time-management, allowing you to plan ahead for a big project, creating a schedule for you that split up the amount of work to an even amount each day. This gives you a structured format, making it easier to stay on-track. Having reminders sent straight to your phone (which for many could be a main source of procrastination) is also a helpful push in the right direction. At the very least, itll make you feel slightly guilty about putting off a project you know you must get done. Organization is one of the top problems facing most teenage students.It is also unfair for students to be kept from contacting their parents. I for one, receive at least four messages a day from my mother and father, regarding many topics, from a reminder that they will be late, to a last-minute doctors appointment that was made in the middle of the school day. In the case of the latter, at least, being unable to get this text can make matters complicated. A parent will turn up at the school, expecting their child to be ready for them (parents dont seem to understand the concept that phones are not allowed in school, perhaps even less than students do) and to their surprise, the student is still in class. The parent then needs to go to the office, check what class theyre in, and call. All this wastes a lot of time, time that does not have to be wasted. In this way, phones are very often important to use for texting.Finally, no matter what steps teachers may take to try to exterminate in-class texting entirely, there is no way to ever completely stop it. A Wilkes University study shows that nine out of every 10 students text in class, regardless of whether or not they are allowed to. Ninety-nine percent of students believe that cell phones should be allowed in class, 95 percent already bring theirs to class, and 65 percent believe that texting should be allowed in class, as long as it is not disrupting the learning environment for fellow students. If teachers find it impossible to control the use of cellphones in their classes, they may as well incorporate them into their lessons, or at least allow them to be used. How much and how well they use their cell phone should be at the discretion of the students. Overall, there is much more help than harm that could come from the use of cell phones during school hours.ByMia SilverioVeritas Features EditorAgainst:In most ways, recent advancements in artificial intelligence providers, such as computers, tablets, and smart phones, have bettered our lives. However, there are certain places, such as in an academic environment, where the existence of these providers are not always welcome. The discussion over the rightful place of these technologies has sparked much controversy. Most people feel strongly about this subject, partly because it is almost strictly two-sided. Either the existence of the providers is tolerable in school, or they should be kept at home.This issue has been juggled by schools around the world, struggling with the main pro-cell phone argument: that phones are essential to a students safety. Should, however, apotentialaid in student safety condone a no-limitations policy on smart phones? Although most students do possess mobile phones, a legitimate percentage still do not. Should the safety of children without cell phones be declared inferior to those who do have cell phones at school? Should the school still be held accountable for the protection of the student? Depending on the schools policy regarding phones, would their overall level of safety differ?The United Nations estimates that there are around 4.1 billion cell phone subscriptions around the world. Recent studies have raised concerns regarding mobile phone links to cancer. Over one third of drivers admit that they have texted while driving. Even though the general public is aware that over 6,000 deaths are caused as a result of distracted driving, as well as the fact that talking on a phone while driving can make ones reaction time as slow as that of a 70-year-old. Even though these statistics are well advertised, the public is not observing different cell phone use habits. Mobile devices have become such an integral part of daily life that it is difficult to stop using them, even in potentially dangerous situations. This conclusion can be relayed to the debate over the existence of cell phones in schools and used to promote the argument against cellular device use. For example, if the simple action of talking into a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle can decrease ones reaction time to that of a 70-year-old, one can imagine how the more complex act of texting would devastate a students ability to concentrate.The allowance of cellular devices in school elicits atrophies of concentration and promote many discouraged behaviors, such as cheating and cyber bullying. In the event that a teacher does not see a student on his/her phone, students can transfer answers to assessments via instant messaging without the proctor noticing. This form of cheating is very difficult to prevent unless the school practices a no tolerance cell phone policy.The recent anti bullying laws passed this year should add another argument to reinforce the frontier against phones. In addition to laptops where students can access social networking sites where most bullying takes place, phones are an easy way to quickly assist the transmittal of information through the student body during the school day. In a recent study, journalist Charlie Osborne found that cyber bullying tends to increase in line with mobile phone usage. Preventing teenagers from being on their phones during school hours will decrease the risk of cyber bullying noticeably.Certain arguments allege that allowing teenagers to use their smart phones in school will alleviate the pressure at home to buy expensive calculators that most advanced mathematics classes require. Although there are apps that will suffice if a student needs a scientific calculator, a fully functional graphing calculator available on an iPhone or android device has yet to be released. One of the main issues with the inability to put a graphing calculator on an iPhone is the amount of power that a smartphone generates is not enough to adequately provide for graphing functions, so certain aspects of the calculator would be horribly slow. Plus, in many schools, the student teacher ratio is not small enough to allow the teacher to confidently ascertain that all students are not just browsing the Internet on their phones. A no-tolerance cell phone policy would also lessen the workload of a teacher, who could focus on relaying information, instead of hunting for students who are texting.Conclusively, modern innovations are helpful and worth utilizing, but in an appropriate environment. The extra work that comes with a free cell phone policy is not fair to teachers and other students who are trying to learn. The claim that cell phones are necessary in event of an emergency is not enough reason to butcher the academic progress of students and promote cyber bullying and cheating. If you are in school and not learning, why should you be in school?