The Controversy Over The Use Of Cell Phones In Schools

We can’t travel back in time. So why do school administrators make such an effort to keep today’s students restricted to the school environment from a decade ago? Technology has advanced. Embrace it. Our tools have become smaller, faster, and more convenient. But we, as students, are not allowed to use them. Cherokee policies towards cell phone usage vary from classroom to classroom. Two fifths of teachers at Cherokee find cell phones to be helpful. But only half that number actually utilizes it (Cher. teacher). The cell phone is a popular tool in the real world that will only keep advancing. It’s about time that Cherokee administrators stepped into the light of the present and take a good look at how much things have changed. Cherokee policies

It is equivalent to an encyclopedia, dictionary, calculator, pen and paper. However, many teachers and administrators only see it as a distraction. As a result, disciplinary rules are created to “put that phone away.” But most of these rules serve to punish the tool rather than the person. But why should the tool be punished? In the real world, cell phones and technology similar to it have become an ordinary part of student lives and adult jobs. 70% of college students report to using their cell phones in all or most classes. 86% report to have lenient school policies. As a result, 100% of students surveyed report to scoring A’s and B’s (Alumni). After college, fluency with technology will only help students seeking better jobs. We are undergoing a digital revolution. The generation without these special skills is ignored by employers. Their labor can simply be substituted with machines (Barnette). Being able to list “tech savvy” in a resume will set a person apart from a crowd. This is the time we must ask ourselves whether putting the phone away is really helping us or depriving us of an opportunity to put an important tool into

There is no doubt that cell phones have a negative connotation due to its usual usage for social media or other forms of recreation. 30-50% of Cherokee students use phones in school for social media (Cher. Students). As a result, it is seen as unnecessary, or even distracting in a school environment. However, cell phones have become part of teen social life. A typical teen sends and receives about 30 texts per day (Pew). Most of these texts are for conversational reason, not informative. Thus, it is for the benefit of student social health. Many social media platforms have opened up a place for teens to share interests, and recent events. Social media also allows teens to extend themselves, make friends, and meet opportunities in places away from their own community. Using cell phones for recreational reasons helps students to feel less stressed by take their mind off of