This document discusses the issue of cell phone usage during the school day. It argues that cell phones should be banned from schools because they are a major distraction that impair learning, enable easier cheating on tests, and increase bullying. While some believe cell phones help with safety in emergencies, the document proposes alternative emergency contact methods like office phones as a safer option. Studies show cyberbullying is on the rise due to easy access to technology, and banning phones would reduce this problem. Overall, the document concludes that cell phones do not belong in the learning environment and their removal would improve focus on schoolwork and safety.

1. Running Head: Cell Phone Usage 1
Cell Phone Usage during the School Day
Alexandra E. Gaertner
Endicott College

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Have you ever been to a presentation where you could not stay focused because the
person next to you was texting, or using some sort of technological device? As time goes on,
technology becomes more and more advanced. Along with these advancements come problems
in society. Cell phones are one technological device that has become incredibly popular. The
majority of people in today‟s society own cell phones. The more advanced cell phones become
the more time people spend on them. Texting is a world-wide phenomenon andteens especially
have become increasingly attached to their cell phones. They have a constant need to be using
them all hours of the day. This has become an issue within school systems.Through the voice of
three credible writers (ethos) it is apparent that schools have to take action against the use of cell
phones because of the many problems they are creating. The opposition, students and some
parents, believes cell phones will help keep a connection between students and parents in case of
an emergency, but there are other ways to amend this. Cell phone usage should be banned during
the school day because of the underlying problems they cause in bullying, cheating, distractions,
and safety.
Some students believe they should be able to carry their cell phones on them during the
school day. Students and some other parents and administrators argue that students should be
able to have them so that they can contact their parents or other authorities at the time of an
emergency. Cell phones are not the answer to this problem. There are many ways for students to
be in contact if there were some sort of emergency occurring. For example, parents can
constantly call the school and have the office get a hold of their child if they need to talk to them.
Also instead of having the students carry their cell phones the school board could set up
emergency call phones in various locations around the campus for students to use in case of an

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emergency. These phones will only be used to make phone calls therefore avoiding all the other
distractions, texting or surfing the web, that come with cell phones.
Some parents like the idea of being able to immediately and directly reach their child all
hours of the day. According to the article, “Schools Re-examine Cell Phone Policies” written by
Jake Russell, a writer for the Jacksonville Journal-Courier,one school believes their students can
have access to cell phones during lunch and free periods because they are not disrupting the
learning environment. The school board argued this was a way to let the students communicate
with parents, as well as limit the temptation of the students using them during class. The
principal stated that not forcing them to part with their cell phones the entire day would decrease
their use at more important times of the day (p. 1). Although this may seem like a good point, it
is not the case. Allowing students access to cell phones at any point during the day still comes
with other consequences. Problems that occur from students using their cell phones when they
are not in class include increased and easier cyber bullying, as well as issues with student safety.
Cyber bullying, the use of the internet and other technologies to harass others, and
bullying in general,have been significantly increasing throughout the past couple years. The
development to new technologies and instant access to them has a major impact on this increase.
Having access to cell phones during school allows students to immediately cyber bully someone.
If there were a fight occurring in the hallway, one student could easily take a photo or video and
upload it to the internet, or send it in a text message to someone, encouraging other people to
come join in or watch. Not only does this immediately affect the situation, cyber accounts of this
event are now available for more torture and humiliation. A student could upload video footage
to a site like Facebook and then anyone could see it and comment on it. Once uploaded the
footage is forever available to the whole world to see. This incident could cause significant

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impairment of the bullied student‟s self-esteem and could make them a target for even more
bullying.
Justin W. Patchin, an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at the
University of Wisconsin, conducted in a study about cyber bullying and published his findings in
his article entitled, “Cyberbullying and Self-Esteem.” He found that it is a growing problem that
has a direct relationship with student‟s self-esteem. For example, after receiving a malicious text,
“you‟re a disgrace to the school and we would be happier without you”, for instance, a student
might start believing those words and feeling less confident. Patchin says cyber bullying has
been becoming much more evident because, “it seems much easier to be cruel and malicious
through a text message, e-mail, posted photo or video, or another form of digital harassment
because of the physical distance separating the offender and the victim” (p. 2). Having
immediate access to these digital devices is only aiding in the problem and making it even easier.
Patchin also says, “Educators need to intervene in cyberbullying incidents, as failure to do so
may impact the ability of students to be successful at school” (p. 1). It is important that school
systems take action against this problem and try to do anything they can to prevent it. Banning
cell phone usage during the school day will help to significantly reduce this problem because it
limits the ability of students to take an embarrassing picture or video of another student.
Another major issue associated with cell phones in class is easier means of cheating.
Students can easily hide their cell phones in their laps and browse the internet for answers to
tests. They could also take a picture of answers or notes beforehand and then access them during
the test. If cell phones were banned from schools and had to be kept off and away during the day,
this problem could be completely eliminated. Reggie Clinton, superintendent of the Beardstown
school district, speaks of his opinion on an effect of allowing cell phone usage during school in,

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“Phones with cameras, for example, can be used to take pictures of testing materials that could
be sent to other students…„The more frequently [cell phones are] going to be available in the
classroom, the more the teaching staff will have to be really on their toes… you have to make
sure you really have things monitored if they're going to be readily available‟ (quoted in Russell
p. 1). If students are allowed access to their phones during the day it would make it incredibly
challenging for the teacher to have to closely monitor every student to make sure they were not
using their device. This would lead to a negative change in the learning environment. The
teacher would have to take up a bigger role enforcing policies andit would ultimately take the
teacher away from their primary role and the amount of learning that is accomplished would be
significantly lower.
Cell phones cause a major distraction during class by taking the students attention away
from the teacher. Students are more interested in texting and surfing the web during class than
listening to the lecture. Akash Bargaria, a writer for the current events section in the Weekly
Reader, believes students should not be allowed to carry their cell phones throughout the day. He
says, “Cell phones can be a major distraction and impair student learning” (p. 1). Because of this,
teachers and school authorities are taking action to implement punishment for using these
devices throughout the school day. Students should not be able to have their cell phones with
them during the day. There is no reason to on them while at school. With immediate access to
such devices students will text friends, search the web, or play games all throughout the day and
not pay any attention to what is happening in class.
Cell phones are a technological device created for social advancements. They are not
meant to be intertwined with the learning environment. Cell phones used during the school day
are an opportunity for distraction and increased bullying. Other means of communication should

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be set up by school authorities to eliminate the need for students to have them. Banning cell
phones from schools would put the focus back on learning and make schools a more productive
and safe environment.

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References
Bagaria, A. (2011). No cell before the bell!.Current Events, 111(7), 7.
Patchin, J., &Hinduja, S. (2010). Cyberbullying and self-esteem.Journal Of School Health,
80(12), 614-621. doi:10.1111/j.1746-1561.2010.00548.x
Russell, J. (2011, August 20). Schools re-examine cellphone policies. Jacksonville Journal-
Courier (IL).