Cell phones in school

[All_Is_Great]

My school has banned the use of cell phones during school. Meaning you can't use it during classes, or the 5 minute breaks. If you need to use it, you have to go outside during lunch hours. However, I have noticed a LOT of people disobeying this.

 

There are so many kids who text in my class, I can't even count them with my fingers. Honestly, what's so important that you have to text during class? Can't you at least do it between classes in a corner? I mean, it's not like the teachers don't know, when you've got you book on your lap and your hands in there too (both of them), isn't it so obvious? I think the teachers have gotten tired of confiscating these things.

 

Personally, I don't think it's right. First, it's against the rules of the school. Also, its a distraction, and I honestly can't understand what it is that's so important -.- .

 

What do you guys think? Do you think schools should allow cell phones? Does your school allow them?

[Riku3220]

There's a zero tolerance electronics policy at my school. If an administrator sees you with your phone or iPod they'll take it, hand it over to the police, and you'll be fined $15 for it. Teachers are usually forgiving and will simply tell you to put it away unless you're a repeat offender.

 

I can understand the reasoning of not having electronics during the class sessions but why can't I play my DS at lunch? Is it really harming anyone if someone listens to music while they eat?

[Grim_]

My school does not allow them but the students (excluding myself as I do not have a cellphone much less one that can "text") generally use them in class if they fit into a group of people who I believe lack social discipline. I do not think that the school should allow them however as it forces the texters to at least be covert about it. It also means that at least some people will not text in class due to respect for the rules or a disinclination for having their phone taken away for the rest of the day.

[doomy]

Just lighten up, whats wrong with them? 5 minute breaks arn't very long, only a few texts...

 

Its probaly just something to do in those classes which just drag on....

[PoorLepRecon]

They shouldn't be allowed. They are a huge distraction. You're in school to learn, not socialize.

 

Ipod/MP3 players on the other hand are questionable. It should be up to the teacher to determine if students can listen to music. It all depends on the class and what work they are doing. You shouldn't need music if you are reading a packet, but if you are doing math problems it would be nice to listen to music while you work.

[mcneilp]

My old high school seems pretty damn relaxed compared to some of yours.

Obviously phones were banned during classes but teachers never really confiscated them or anything. MP3 players and iPods were banned in the corridors for like a week before everyone forgot about that rule. Most of the teachers were cool about them, most let you listen to them in class if you were working on an essay or a project or something and they needed you to keep quiet.

[Giordano]

I'm not for banning phones, but god damn people text WAY TO MUCH. How can people do that for that long?

[Lacoste]

I love texting in class, at least back in highschool it was more secretive, but like really, does it bug you that much?I mean come on, how big of a dweeb do you have to be to get annoyed at someone else texting? Usually I do it to make plans, kill time, depends on who it is really...

 

But yeah, my school had a policy, but everyone did it, no big deal.

[Pinkbullet3]

Doesn't matter to me because I don't have texting, lol.

 

Doesn't affect my learning ability in any way, shape, or form, so eh.

[Kidd_Varrow]

I never really payed attention to cell phone rules in high school because I didn't have one then. I don't find them distracting at all. The only time they really affect the rest of the class is when they ring during class, at which point we all have a good laugh. What is distracting, though, is when people have a laptop out and they're pretending to take notes with it, but they're really playing a game.

[Ember]

.

[stevepole]

It's been a couple years since I was in high school but my the schools had the basic general rule "no use of electronics" but it really depended on the teacher. Most teachers never cared as long as people would text and what not at appropriate times. I personally, find it distracting to myself but if I'm sitting in a huge lecture hall, I'll text, their boring as hell, but if I'm in like a 30 person class I'll try not to text as it is just simply rude to the teacher. But I do agree with your high school's rule, they are only trying to help the students in the long run.

[pegpenguin]

Cell phones during class is a disturbance if it's on the student isn't even paying attention. Doesn't mean I didn't do it haha I wish i'd had an ipod while I was in high school, but when I finally got one, it was stolen out of my bag during class while I went to the bathroom and I never got it back. Which is another reason for the no electronics policy a lot of schools have, they can't be held liable for that stuff.

 

theres a lot of reasons for the rules even though they seem unfair... but I say let the kids take the risk.

[Furah]

The school that one of my sisters goes to has a really strict policy, you have to hand your electronics into the office, and they must have your mobile number, otherwise it is confiscated for the term (Aussie school year lasts for ~40 weeks with about 10 weeks/term). The teachers can search your bag if they suspect you have any electronics on you.

 

I used to make calls in between class to my mum if it was urgent. Never texted during class, but I did listen to music in classes I was allowed to.

[Iamdan]

How dumb. Set it to silent, then how does it distract anyone?

[H2PM]

How dumb. Set it to silent, then how does it distract anyone?

When they text loud.

Thats when it annoys me.

 

Or when they spend the whole time texting and we have to do a group thing or whatever and they have no idea what the hell to do because they were not paying attention.

[Youmu]

I have to agree with the cell phones part. Why should you be texting in class anyway? Is it really THAT urgent? <_<

 

Though I wouldn't really care less if they used it some other time at school, let it be.

[fastortoise]

I don't even think computers and ccalculators belong in schools, so yeah. Texting is only useful when trying to have sex with someone in a different class at the time, not learning.

[Lenticular_J]

We have a zero tolerance policy, but nobody really cares, teachers or students. Just know when to do it - namely, not when something important is going down. That goes for texting period.

 

I have important [cabbage] to say sometimes. Gotta make plans.

[Youmu]

I don't even think computers and ccalculators belong in schools, so yeah. Texting is only useful when trying to have sex with someone in a different class at the time, not learning.

Sexting?

 

Oh wait, that doesn't make sense. Nvm.

 

Anyways, I still think texting in class is stupid.

[unkn0wnwarrior]

I think they should be banned during classes, but any other time be allowed. During lunch and the break between classes, you're on your own time, after all. My old school looked at it this way, and it worked out pretty well. Only a few people used them during classes.

[Romy]

I don't even think computers and ccalculators belong in schools, so yeah. Texting is only useful when trying to have sex with someone in a different class at the time, not learning.

 

Your statement doesn't make much sense...

[mcneilp]

Used to find it funny when someone had their phone on silent vibrate when someone phoned them and you could hear it kinda vibrating against the plastic seat. All the pupils in the class kinda turned to see who it was but the teacher was oblivious.

[Ronan]

They shouldn't be allowed. They are a huge distraction. You're in school to learn, not socialize.

From what my high-school was like when I was there a few years ago - it seems that the socialising aspect has become a lot more prevalent. Not that I'm disagreeing - you're absolutely right and it's something that unfortunately a fair few forget. ;)

 

I don't believe that banning cell-phones is really the way to go - keeping a tighter leash on people, especially teenagers, encourages them mostly to disobey the rules, especially during class time where it's seen to be socially 'cool' to be disobeying the rules. Unfortunately with school's natural popularity competition, peer-pressure plays such a large part in making others follow suit.

 

However, I do agree that having them being allowed in classes is at least the minimum enforcement required. Classes are the time where you should be focusing on what you're being taught, even if it is boring at times! (You're not at Uni' yet! :P) A school-wide ban shouldn't really be enforced though I feel, it's far too restricting on pupils and mobile-phones are indeed useful in certain circumstances, disallowing them could really have negative consequences in some situations - albeit rarely.

 

My old school was certainly like that - allowing outside of classes, but not in. Unfortunately - it didn't really do much help either! Phones were still used quite largely in classes.

[fastortoise]

I don't even think computers and ccalculators belong in schools, so yeah. Texting is only useful when trying to have sex with someone in a different class at the time, not learning.

 

Your statement doesn't make much sense...

"Trying to get to have sex with". The sentence makes more sense when I curse, but that's not allowed here so sometimes my translating fails.