Should Students Have Phones in School?

Around the world, schools, communities, states, and even entire countries are deciding to ban cell phones and smartwatches in schools. There is little dispute that students would benefit from focusing less on their cell phones and more on learning. However, there is debate about whether cell phone bans are the best way to accomplish this. There are also other ways to limit cell phone use that are not as aggressive as a complete ban. This article looks at the pros and cons of having phones in school, but one idea is universal: something must be done to get students off their phones and focused on learning. Initially, it is essential to understand the pros and cons of cell phones in the classroom.

Reasons for keeping cell phones in school include:

• Communication: Parents can get ahold of their children. Everyone has a busy schedule, and plans change quickly in families. Students and parents both need to know if plans change.
• Perceived Safety: In the case of school emergencies, parents want to know their child is safe. Cell phones give a feeling of security to all parties.
• Education: Teachers and administrators use apps to keep in touch with children. This allows educators and students to stay updated on school information in a way that the student won’t miss.
• Socialization: Cell phones allow students to connect with classmates and build friendships.

Reasons for removing cell phones from school include:

• Education: Children are distracted in school. Research shows that allowing phones in the classroom negatively impacts test scores and long-term learning retention. When phones are banned, test scores go up.
• Bullying: Photos and videos taken of other students in the classroom or bathroom without their permission are being posted online or airdropped to other people. Research in this area shows bullying decreases when students do not have access to phones.
• Cheating: Students are using cell phones and smart watches to cheat. According to the Canadian Journal of Educational Administration, students are more likely to cheat using cell phones.
• Cost: Banning phones comes with monetary expenses. Writing a new school rule in the handbook is inexpensive. However, policing the policy requires a system of management that will cost the school money and time.

Are there other options besides an all-out ban on cell phones?

Sure, schools can focus on creating a culture where students understand the value of their education and willingly put their phones away. Or, perhaps teachers can devise plans that work in their own classroom. Either way, it will require curriculum, training, guidance, and a school/district-wide consensus, making it challenging to enact real change.

The problem with cell phones isn’t going away, so schools must find solutions that work for them. These responses will range from banning phones to allowing students to keep and use their phones at will. Regardless of the solution that schools choose, there will be setbacks. There is no perfect answer; schools must decide what works best for their situation.

A Look at Unique Solutions

Lite phones: Buxton High School in Massachusetts gave their students lite phones that can text or call but can’t be used for social media. The initial reports say the students struggled to adjust but did not mind the new phones in time. These phones cost approximately $300/student, which makes this option unaffordable for most schools.

Locked Phone bags: A popular option includes phone bags that lock students’ phones and smartwatches during the day. The bags are opened as the students leave school at the end of the day, allowing them to keep their phones with them, even if they can’t use them. One downside of these bags is that students can order tools online to release the locks. The cost is $20-$30/student.

Low Tech solutions include cell phone classroom management, where teachers provide holding spots to store students’ phones in. These spots can be boxes at the front of the room or specific corners of a desk. This is easier to manage at a classroom level, where an individual teacher has more control over the culture of the room. Still, it might be challenging to enact uniformly school-wide.

Designated times or places where phones can be used. Foster a culture of self-regulation and responsible technology use. This idea will work for some students, but others will struggle. It will also require student curriculum and teacher training to get started.

If your school is going to ban cell phones, consider these precepts.

The entire school should be committed to the policy.

The larger the net that is thrown, the better it will work. The most effective bans will be when schools unite to make a change. A new culture is more likely to form if students don’t see others on their phones. On the other hand, the smaller the ban, let’s say, one teacher in one classroom. The less effective it will be.

Market the idea before and after the ban.

This will require a marketing campaign to explain the policy, expound on the benefits, clearly list the consequences of noncompliance and promote the positive results. Everyone will have concerns, and administrators will need to be ready to address these concerns before a significant change occurs. Once the ban is established, administrators, teachers, parents, and students will undergo this change together. Benefits must be easy to see, widely discussed and shared with everyone to make the transition easier. Report the positive results early in the process and frequently.

Set reasonable consequences for noncompliance.

The consequences shouldn’t go overboard but must work as a deterrent. For example, when a phone is found, it should not simply be confiscated until the end of class. This will lead to student and teacher frustration. Instead, consider a more robust consequence, such as keeping the phone for a parent to pick up or overnight if a parent is unavailable. The penalty should be straightforward and easy to follow.

Teachers and administrators must unite.

If schools are divided on this issue, bans have little hope of seeing positive results. The higher test grades and lower bullying rates will not happen if the adults are not united on the rules and how they will be policed. Teachers can not spend all day policing phones and must know that administrators will enforce the rules and back the teachers if they report a student. Teachers can not ignore the devices that they see. They must take the time to implement the policy and report the student. As with any classroom or school culture, if time is taken at the beginning to enforce the rules, less effort is needed later to maintain the policy.

 

Removing cell phones from schools has many benefits and disadvantages, not the least of which is the daunting challenge establishing a ban presents. As with any school change, communities must decide if the benefits outweigh the risks and costs of the change. At the time of writing this article, 77% of schools prohibited the non-academic use of cell phones during school hours. However, it is unknown to what degree these policies are enforced.