What's the most useful, accessible and compact useful piece of technology there is? No matter who you are, you should have easily been able to answer that question (at least as long as you've read the title), and if you've been to a school in the last, say, 10 years, then you probably know that they are forbidden during class hours for student use. This ban was set up in order to prevent students from getting distracted and in order to preserve the order of the class, since the loud ringtones of cellphones could quite easily cause a lot of laughter inside a classroom and thus deviate the class's attention from their studies. However, this kind of policy is by far outdated. This ban comes from a time where cellphones were simply used as a means of communication between other phones. At that point, cellphones were nothing more than a nuisance for the teacher. Nowadays, however, the story's quite different.
Cellphones have evolved to the point that they are almost quite literally a computer in your pocket. Most schools already allow the use of computers and laptops in class, so why not allow phones? It IS a much easier solution to the educational needs of your classroom. There is an endless myriad of educational apps available for free download and in fact, statistics say that 73% of teachers have already begun to use the cellphone as a means of education. And if you're still thinking that this will be too distracting for students then remember that studies show that, on average, 99% of students will be off-task while using their computers. If you're going to allow laptops, then its kind of a hypocrisy to just ban the cellphone. Obviously there need to be limits, but just as how it happens when students chatter in class, a teacher should always be aware and take the necessary measures to, simply, "shush" those who disturb the class with their cellphones.
Cellphones can also contribute to overall education in more indirect manners. Let me start with a story (note that the story has been distorted in order to protect the people who are actually in it, who btw are part of my family). Yula was a young 15-year old teenager with hunger for the pleasures of life but an extremely strict father. Following a tragic accident, Yula's father perished. Even though he was mourned, two months later Yula got pregnant and had to deal with the heavy burden of caring for a baby and such a young age. The story just goes to show that the more you keep something away from people the more they will want it. The grass is always greener on the other side, right? Eventually, school students will get to college and then go off to work. If students are deprived of the use of the cellphone then they will crave for it even more when they leave school. It's better to learn about the problems that misusing a phone in class first hand while you're still in school and your parents can support you, rather than having to learn those the bad way when you're struggling to understand how the heck to be independent. Let's admit it, life is full of painful lessons anyway, but getting those during the time where you still live with your family is probably better for you anyways.
Asides from the education, allowing cellphones would contribute to making schools a happy place, since students would be more content with less (useless) restrictions. These are only a few of the reasons why the ban on cell phones must be removed from schools that still have it. Interested in more reasons? Feel like joining our campaign to free cellphones? Got any say about this? Then we invite you to come and show us your thoughts at our website. Let's make schools a happier, more enjoyable place for the students!
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