My favorite part of high school is making memories. Memories that will last for years to come, and that I can look back on and laugh about later. Memories I have of a funny Google search, and especially all of the 0.5x photos that I have collected over the years. Scrolling through my camera roll and seeing a photo of my best friend and I goofing off in class, or a photo of my English teacher dressed up as Willy Wonka. I love looking back at the highlights of my high school career; however, in the near future, all of these memories may be unpreservable.
Beginning in the second semester, new policies will be enforced that could potentially prevent student cell phone use during class. The reasoning behind these policies is that cell phones are becoming a distraction to students and affecting their ability to learn during class.
However, the reasoning behind this argument is faulty because not all students are being distracted by their cell phones. In fact, cell phones are a fantastic tool that can be used to enhance our learning.
One of the main reasons I use my phone in class is to keep a to-do list on my phone. Without my note titled “THINGS TO DO” on my phone, there’s no way that I could remember to get everything done.
Some may argue that I should just use a planner and a cell phone isn’t necessary for keeping a to-do list. For some people, that may be true, but not for me. High school is all about figuring out what learning and study techniques work best for you, and this works for me.
Phones should not be taken away because they are a very useful piece of technology and they are efficient for small tasks.
Whether that task is googling a definition or a math formula that I don’t understand, I think we can all agree that pulling out a laptop is very inefficient. Instead, use your phone!
In fact, some teachers expect you to use a phone to look up stuff. For example, Spanish teachers ask that all students download an app, WordReference, to help with definitions. Teachers expect students to use that app to help with translation because it enhances their learning.
There are countless ways that phones are used to enhance learning because phones are a resource. Students at Liberty use their phones for calculators, turning in assignments, scanning QR codes, and everyone’s favorite- Kahoot!
I agree that when misused, phones can be a huge distraction. Some people do not know how to use a phone as a resource, and it disrupts their learning. However, you can’t let the minority ruin and take away the privilege for all of the people who do nothing wrong.
Instead of just disciplining the people who are creating the problem, new cell phone policies will discipline everyone in the second semester.
Right now, there are two potential policies that may be implemented in the second semester. These policies are not finalized and will most likely be changed before they are officially implemented.
The first potential policy is that there will be no phone use allowed during school hours. From the beginning of first period to the end of seventh period, phone use will be prohibited. This includes passing periods and lunch.
The next potential policy is that there will be no phone use during classes. However, phones will be allowed at lunch and during passing periods.
The reasoning behind these policies is because there is not enough consistency between classroom phone policies. If we need more consistency between classrooms for policies, why don’t all classes have the same grading systems? Why is there not a basic syllabus for every class?
I don’t see the reasoning behind creating continuity between classes if we are only creating continuity for one thing.
Overall, these cell phone policies are unfair and unreasonable. With the proposed ban on cell phones, students will lose a valuable resource to their education, to a cause that doesn’t even make sense.
