Argumentative Essay

Cell Phones in School

In today's modern-world society, the use of mobile phones in school is highly controversial. With one generation saying that they should not be allowed in school and another generation saying they should be allowed in school, where does one stand? By all means, I believe that the use of a mobile phone can and should be used in school for educational purposes. There is no question in my head that a student should be denied the right to look up some sort of information if he has it right there in his hand. The world today revolves around new technology and inventions; we need to allow our youth to use, grow, and learn from this technology. If we do not give them this access, then how do we move forward? On the other side of the issue, there are people who say the use of a mobile phone should not be allowed for kids will only use them to text, Facebook, and play games. There is no part of me that says this will not happen for outliers always occur, but the major part of me says that if teachers enforce the use of phones in a positive way, the result will benefit. This issue is based upon the perspective of the teacher. I am not saying let these kids constantly have access to their phones (for example, let them use the mobile phone during a lecture), but when the occasion arises that the student needs an alternative informational source, allow the use of a phone. There is absolutely no reason to disallow the use of an information source in the classroom under ordinary circumstances.

With the recession going on in the United States today, schools have been receiving less funding. Superintendent Gearl Loden asked a question on huffingtonpost.com, why do we keep buying new technology when students have it right there in their pocket? Loden, Tupelo Superintendent, has enhanced the program of Bring Your Own Technology. His idea takes the point that by cutting spending on items such as Ipads and using the students own devises, schools will have more money for other things that they actually need. These items may be new desks for the students or better soccer nets (Kieffer). This is a powerful statement when it comes to the idea of using cell phones in school today. We are not only giving kids the access to faster information, we are cutting spending on a national level. In times of recession, this is a benefit that helps not just the individual but the nation as a whole.

            In the United States, the bond between parents and children is extremely strong. In an article on About.com, the idea of knowing where your child is at all times comes up. It gives rise to questions of a troubled parent such as where is my child, is he or she in trouble, has he or she been kidnapped? The article pointed out that with just a quick text or voice, a parent can be easily at peace once again. It also stated that cell phones can turn an emergency into a relatively easy handled situation (Kennedy). I believe this article proves an extremely strong point. Parents should always have contact with their children directly if possible. The mobile phone is a direct passport to their children. For an example, if a child has an emergency and is uncomfortable sharing that emergency with a teacher, how is that emergency going to be expressed? The use of a cell phone during school will give access to faster information, cut federal spending, and give parents full access to their children during the day.

            As to all these cell phone benefits in the classroom, there is some controversy as to them being a downfall. When on the teacher’s page of the scholastic site, I read an article of a woman who describes cell phone use in class as a status symbol. She quoted that when a cell phone rings in class, everyone laughs; and, that when one plays a video game it makes them look cool. This teacher, Jesse Scaccia, described children using cell phones in class as uninterested students with no drive to learn. She also described them as having short attention spans that care more about socializing than education (Scaccia). I do give credit for Scaccia for some students in schools have no drive to learn, but I strongly disagree with the statement that it is the result of cell phones. There is not a chance that cell phones have caused kids become uninterested with education. There have been students and there will always be students who don’t have the drive to learn but this is not solely on the fact that cell phones are allowed in class. If anything, cell phones have helped the future generations of students. They have provided an extremely faster research tool and allowed instant access to changed plans with parents. The use of a mobile devise in school is a positive act and no way has been the cause for uninterested students.

            Though there is much controversy, the use of cell phones in school gives students more tools to learn and greater access to information. On top of this, they have reduced school funding allowing for schools to buy the things they truly need. People may argue that they are a distraction and cause students to slack off. I do not argue against this but I do argue that cell phones are not the primary cause. Under respectful circumstances, cell phones give students better opportunities. With the use of cell phones in education, the learning capabilities of students can increase and allow for better opportunities.