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Should Schools Ban Phones?

September 2, 2024
By Brian Fitzgerald

As You Read, Think About: What are some of the reasons schools don’t allow students to have phones in class?

Sixth-grade teacher Angie Charky has a no-phones policy in her class. But she says getting students to follow it is exhausting. 

“They’ll put the phone away for like a minute and pull it right back out,” she explains. 

Charky is looking forward to January, when her district will implement a ban on smartphones in schools. She works in the Los Angeles Unified School District, which serves more than 420,000 students. 

The phone ban in Los Angeles is part of a growing trend—and it’s not just districts that are making the change. Florida, Indiana, and Ohio have passed laws that require public schools statewide to limit phone use during class time. Other states are considering similar laws.

Like Charky, many teachers support phone bans. They say kids are more engaged when they aren’t constantly looking at their devices. They also argue that keeping phones out of schools cuts down on cheating and cyberbullying. 

But other teachers and many parents think completely banning phones goes too far. They point out that phones can be helpful for schoolwork and in case of emergencies. 

Sixth-grade teacher Angie Charky has a no-phones policy in her class. But she says getting students to follow it is exhausting. 

“They’ll put the phone away for like a minute and pull it right back out,” she explains. 

Charky is looking forward to January. That’s when her district will implement a ban on smartphones in schools. She works in the Los Angeles Unified School District. It serves more than 420,000 students. 

The phone ban in Los Angeles is part of a growing trend. But it’s not just districts that are making the change. Florida, Indiana, and Ohio have passed laws that require public schools statewide to limit phone use during class time. Other states are considering similar laws.

Charky isn’t alone in supporting phone bans. Many other teachers do too. They say kids are more engaged when they aren’t constantly looking at their devices. They also argue that keeping phones out of schools cuts down on cheating. It limits cyberbullying too.

But other teachers and many parents think completely banning phones goes too far. They point out that phones can be helpful for schoolwork. Devices can also be important in emergencies. 

Should students be banned from having phones in school?

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Watch a video to learn how to handle sticky situations in the digital world.

Yes

Many educators say phone use in schools has gotten out of control. Christopher Knox is a fourth-grade teacher in Flagler Beach, Florida. He says it doesn’t take much for phones to cause a major distraction in class. 

“One little chime sets off the whole class, as every student with a phone checks to see if it’s theirs,” he explains. 

Many educators say phone use in schools has gotten out of control. Christopher Knox is a fourth-grade teacher in Flagler Beach, Florida. He says it doesn’t take much for phones to distract kids. 

“One little chime sets off the whole class, as every student with a phone checks to see if it’s theirs,” he explains. 

97% of kids ages 11 to 17 use their phones during school hours.

Source: Common Sense Media

Source: Common Sense Media

Charky hopes that not being allowed to text, play games, or scroll through social media will be a positive change for her students. 

“I think they’ll be more focused on what we’re talking about in class,” she says. 

Knox is glad his school doesn’t allow students to use their phones during the day, because it encourages them to be more social. 

“The cafeteria gets very loud during lunch,” he says. “But I love that the students are actually talking to each other!”

Charky hopes the ban will be a positive change for her students. 

“I think they’ll be more focused on what we’re talking about in class,” she says. 

Knox is glad his school doesn’t allow students to use their phones during the day. It encourages them to be more social. 

“The cafeteria gets very loud during lunch,” he says. “But I love that the students are actually talking to each other!”

Rick Bowmer/AP Photo

Some schools require students to keep their phones in special pouches until the end of the day. 

No

Most teachers agree that they don’t want a classroom full of kids texting. But some say a total ban on phones isn’t fair to students. 

“Cell phones have become a key part of everybody’s communication, learning, and ability to thrive in the world,” says Stevie Frank. She’s a technology coach and former fifth-grade teacher in Zionsville, Indiana. 

Frank argues that it’s better to teach students to use technology responsibly than to take it away. Like many other teachers, she says phones can be useful learning tools. For example, Frank would let her fifth-graders use their phones to create podcasts and video assignments for class.

Most teachers agree that they don’t want a classroom full of kids texting. But some say a total ban on phones isn’t fair to students. 

“Cell phones have become a key part of everybody’s communication, learning, and ability to thrive in the world,” says Stevie Frank. She’s a technology coach and former fifth-grade teacher in Zionsville, Indiana. 

Frank argues that students should learn to use technology responsibly. That’s better than taking it away entirely. Like many other teachers, she says phones can be useful learning tools. For example, Frank would let her fifth-graders use their phones to create podcasts and video assignments for class.

79% of parents say kids should be allowed to use their phones in school at least sometimes.

Source: National Parents Union Survey

Source: National Parents Union Survey

For many parents and kids, allowing phones in schools makes life more convenient. Nikko Stroble is a fifth-grader in Carlsbad, California. His parents might text him if a pickup plan has changed or if he forgot his lunch. Nikko says phones can also help students feel safe.

“Kids might need to reach out to their parents if something goes wrong,” he says.

For many parents and kids, allowing phones in schools makes life more convenient. Nikko Stroble is a fifth-grader in Carlsbad, California. His parents might text him if a pickup plan has changed or if he forgot his lunch. Nikko says phones can also help students feel safe.

“Kids might need to reach out to their parents if something goes wrong,” he says.

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1. What does the author mean when he writes that “it’s not just districts that are making the change”?

2. Why does Christopher Knox say that his school cafeteria gets very loud during lunch?

3. Based on the article, how might allowing phones in schools make life more convenient for some parents and kids?

1. What does the author mean when he writes that “it’s not just districts that are making the change”?

2. Why does Christopher Knox say that his school cafeteria gets very loud during lunch?

3. Based on the article, how might allowing phones in schools make life more convenient for some parents and kids?

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