Should students be allowed to use phones in school?

Caption: Cell phone collection is mandatory in schools in Brazil. PACA students turn in their cell phones as soon as the first homeroom bell rings at 8:00am. [photo provided by shopping website (https://niceriftsk.click/)]

by Isabella Bruniera

It has been my experience that cell phones are part of our daily lives now. Most students bring their phones everywhere, including school. Because of that, a very valid question to ask is, “Should we be allowed to use our phones at school?”

Personally, I think we should be able to use them, at least, during certain times or for specific purposes. But I also know that phones can cause problems. Cell phones can be useful, but they can also cause problems if they aren’t used the right way.

One of the biggest positive uses for cell phones is that they can be used as learning tools. There are apps for studying, checking homework, organizing your tasks, reading articles, and even practicing languages.

Sometimes teachers don’t have time to explain something again, and having access to a phone can help you look it up quickly. I’ve done this in class when we were allowed to use phones in school, and it honestly helped me understand the lesson better and answer my questions.

Cell phones are also important for safety. Parents like being able to check on their kids, and students feel safer knowing they can call someone if there’s an emergency. And even though we’re allowed to use our phones on school trips, having them during regular school hours would still help with communication and safety.

Even though schools have office phones, it’s not always fast, and sometimes you can’t leave class. Having your own phone means you can reach someone quickly when you really need it. All of this makes phones a useful tool for keeping everyone informed and safe.

It can also be argued that phones can be distracting. And yes, I can agree that they can be, actually, very distracting. Some students use them in the middle of class to text or scroll through social media. Others try to play games or watch videos instead of paying attention. And when one person gets distracted, sometimes it affects the whole class.

Another risk that I have heard from teachers is that phones can cause cheating during tests or make it easier for students to get off-task.

Another problem is how phones can hurt students’ focus and learning. When a phone is nearby, it’s really easy to get distracted by notifications, messages, or even just the temptation to check something “for one second.” That one second turns into five minutes, and suddenly you miss something important the teacher said. Even if the phone is on silent, just knowing it’s there can make it harder to pay attention.

Some students also try to multitask by listening to class while texting or checking something online but that usually makes the work take longer. Teachers say that when phones are constantly around, it becomes harder for the whole class to stay on track. In the end, the main issue is not with the phones themselves or their availability. The issue is with lack of training in students so that they learn how to discipline themselves when phones are available. After all, cell phones are not going away, and eventually a student will become an independent adult who will have to decide when to use (or not use) the phone. They’re part of how we communicate, learn, and stay safe. But they can also create problems if people aren’t careful.

I think we should let students use their phones when it makes sense, but also set rules so things don’t get out of control. In my opinion, if everyone works together with students, teachers, and parents, we can make phone use something positive instead of something chaotic.