By Ella Stone
Everybody knows what phones are, and the majority of people own one themselves. As the new generation grows up with phones incremented into their lives, we need to consider the negative externalities.This leads us to the question, are they improving classroom environments, or negatively affecting them.
Stockton University reported, “Mobile device use in the classroom may be distracting and harmful based on students’ urge to text or check notifications as they pop up.” Even though phones can be useful for things like quickly researching topics, or accessing ebooks for classes, at Benicia High we have school issued Chromebooks. Every class I walk into, at least 10 people are on their phones. Maybe they are on Google Classroom, or checking grades, but the most likely thing being displayed on those screens is social media.
Banning phones will never be an option, just for safety reasons. Whether having to call for a family emergency or figuring out how to get picked up from school, you need to have your phone accessible. Now just because phones can’t be removed from campus, doesn’t mean that phones cannot be restricted. Many teachers at this school like Mr. Coyne and Mr. Schoonover in our school’s history department do not allow students to go on phones, unless they ask and have a good reason. Even though many students dislike this rule, I actually find that in those classes, I get more work done efficiently and pay better attention all together.
Mr. Knight, a Math teacher here says, “cell phones are the single greatest distraction facing students in my math classes” . Being a student of his for 2 years now, I can say that last year I was on my phone often, and I definitely fell behind. Not being on my phone as often this year I have been way more involved in the class, and learned a ton more. He also said, “I am confident that if students could stay off of their phones throughout the class period, that their learning would dramatically increase.”
Mrs. Marwick, the College and Career counselor, has mixed feelings about phones, “Phones are a really valuable tool in some ways because of all these resources that are at our fingertips, but many students are distracted by them and spending time on them when they should be developing healthier coping skills for their emotions. Like watching tik tok as a distraction.” Many people not just at school, but out of school avoid talking in person. It is okay to be afraid, but learning skills like these now will help a lot in the long run. Talking to your teachers in person instead of over email, can avoid miscommunication and confusion.
A 2020 study reported by the US News recently found that 90% of principles support that there should be restrictions. Not only for high school students, but also middle schoolers. 80% said that these phones are causing consequences for social development and academics.Amber Snell, a teacher from a Kentucky Middle School says, “In some classes, students use cellphones for instructional tools and games like Quizlet, Kahoot! and others.” This would be great if we didn’t have Chromebooks.
Phones are a part of our everyday lives, and we will just have to adapt, but making some restrictions probably wouldn’t be a horrible idea.
beniciapaw.com 