Imagine being stuck in a dangerous situation and not being able to contact your family members, friends, and most importantly 911.
In today’s world, where safety is the main priority for schools, cell phones are essential for communication. Despite this, the Parkway School District recently announced that it is banning cell phones from classrooms in all buildings starting next school year. Parkway should not ban phone usage during class because phones provide a sense of security, help with time management and organization, and are a useful tool not only for socializing but also for school work.
In an age where cell phones and technology are a big part of our lives, it seems like we are going backward in time. Parkway says that cell phones are negatively impacting learning and social interaction. But have they looked at other positives? We have intruder drills all the time, but imagine if a real intruder were to come into our school. How would students be able to contact their loved ones to let them know what was happening if phones are put away in cell phone lockers?
Another reason why Parkway high schools should not ban phone usage during class is because they help with time management and organization. Lots of students use an app called “Egenda” where you can label what classes you have, put what work you have down, and then can select what date it is due. If phones were not allowed during class it would be harder to organize and remember all 7 of our classes’ homework.
Some may argue that the phone ban would help allow students to better focus in classrooms and have fewer distractions. However, a huge resource for students when it comes to schoolwork is their phone and it can be managed in a positive rather than negative way. Some teachers allow their students to use their phones as a resource for many reasons. When there is downtime, or when a student gets their work done teachers let them go on their phone. Without this, students would be very bored and discontented.
Lastly, phones can be used as a useful tool not only for socializing but for school work as well. Lots of times you will hear teachers say that their students can have a brain break, to let them reset and recharge their minds during learning. Also, phones being banned during school would make students feel disconnected from their social circles. This could lead to feelings of isolation and anxiety. Phones provide quick access to information and resources. If taken away, students might struggle to find information quickly, which could slow down their research and learning process.
In conclusion, it is known that punishment actually encourages children to lie and avoid punishment rather than avoiding the behavior you are trying to stop. This would lead to people sneaking around with technology, which would cause more chaos than phones being around at school right now. This all proves that Parkway high schools should not ban phone usage during class because they provide a sense of security, help with time management and organization, and are a useful tool not only for socializing but also schoolwork.
