Should Schools Ban
Mobile Phones?
Mobile phones have changed the way we communicate, but people
disagree on whether the devices are useful tools for education.
Students can be easilydistractedby their phones during class.
Are they listening to the teacher or texting their friends? Are they
taking a picture of a quiz to cheat? Maybe they are playing a game,
or watching a video, instead of paying attention.
School officials, teachers and parents all are trying to find out the
best way to supervise students’ use of mobile or cellphones.
In the Canadian province of Ontario, officials are restricting phone
use during teaching time. However, there are exceptions for
classroom activities, health and other emergencies.
France passed a law in 2018 banning the use of cellphones in
schools for students up to age 15, the age when they go to high
school.
Last July, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law. It
says state public andcharterschoolscan ban students from using
smartphones in class and at school. It does not, however, say
schools are required to completely ban the devices.
The law asks schooldistricts,charter schools and education
offices to develop cellphone policies to prevent, or limit students’
use of the devices at school. There are exceptions, which include
emergencies or issues related to health and well-being.
