Illustration of a personified phone dressed as a student looking sad as the teacher says, No Phones!

Illustration by Tom Garrett; Debate photos courtesy of families; Shutterstock.com (background)

Should Schools Ban Smartphones?

You won’t see students staring at their phones at Torrington Middle School in Connecticut. That’s because the school no longer allows students to have smartphones in class. Instead, their mobile devices are locked up in special pouches during the school day. Fiona Cappabianca, the chairperson of the Torrington school board, explained that phones had become too much of a distraction. 

“Cell phones are abused by all our students that bring them into the buildings,” she told a local newspaper. She pointed out that students were texting, sharing TikTok videos, and even taking FaceTime calls during class. 

Also, some school officials say giving kids access to the internet and social media makes it easier for cyberbullying to occur in school. 

But not everyone thinks schools should be phone-free zones for students. Some people say that it’s better to teach kids how to use devices responsibly than to take them away. Plus, some parents say they want to be able to reach their kids during the day.

Here’s what two of our readers think.

At my school, our phones must be turned off and the teacher keeps them until the day is over. That’s a good policy. Dings and buzzes from texts, emails, and other phone notifications can distract you and your classmates. Playing on your phone could make you lose focus while the teacher is talking, which could lead to bad grades.

Also, some kids might use their phones to cheat during tests. They could look for answers online or use a calculator app to solve math problems.

I’m glad that my school allows us to have smartphones in class. It gives us a sense of security that we can call for help if there’s an emergency. 

Phones can also help students with their schoolwork. You can use your phone for research or to spell-check. You can also keep track of daily schedules and assignment deadlines.

Smartphones are such a big part of many kids’ lives outside of school. Letting us have them in class helps us learn to use them the right way.

What does your class think?

Should schools ban smartphones?

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