Opinion: Rethinking the Cell Phone Policy

Have you ever been in school and needed to call someone? At Cesar Chavez Academy Middle School student’s cell phones must be turned off and put in their locker. Some people think that students should be able to use their phones while others feel they shouldn’t. I think cell phones should be allowed in school because they can help in emergencies, they can save the school money, and they can even help students learn more.

One reason why I think cell phones should be allowed in school is that they can help in emergencies. This means that students can call or get a hold of someone if something bad happens. For example, I have a friend that has panic attacks and it helps when she can call her parents. Another example is if someone gets a threat from another student who tells them they are going to fight them after school. In this situation, they could call their parents to pick them up for safety reasons and so they can talk to staff members after school.

Another reason why I think cell phones should be allowed in school is that they could save the school money, especially on technology. Students with phones can use them instead of computers, which means the school wouldn’t have to buy as many computers. According to edtechevidence.org, schools in the United States spend about 26 to 40 billion dollars on educational technology the year before the pandemic. As for virtual learning students with phones can use them for zoom and the office wouldn’t have to hand out a lot of computers like they did before. 

The last reason why I think cell phones should be allowed in school is that it can help students learn more. This means that cell phones can help students learn during school. For example, when I listen to music I tend to get more work done because I am more focused. Also, according to study.com, Music that is soothing and relaxing can help students to beat stress or anxiety while studying. Background music may improve focus on a task by providing motivation and improving mood. During long study sessions, music can aid endurance.” Another way phones could help with learning is by allowing students to keep voice notes instead of having to write them down. 

In conclusion, I think cell phones should be allowed in school. This is because they can help in emergencies, they can save schools money, and they can help students learn more.