Cell Phone Use In School

Former Viera High School student, Stephanie Pruneau, demonstrates the approach she used to use in class while texting.

by Melanie Pruneau and Jordan Walsh

A faint buzz or ringing is the sound every high school student fears to hear during class. That low hum is the sound of danger; of defeat. This is the case, especially when the result is the confiscation of their cell phones.

Nowadays, almost every teenager in America has a cell phone. Not only do we all have a cell phone, but the small, flat device has become an essential part of our everyday lives. With the rising tide of cell phone use in this country today, a question is called forth to be answered; Should school cell phone rules become more lenient, as the rest of America has over the years, or remain the same?

Students carry their cell phones with them everywhere, as if it’s another limb, even to school. When asked why she thinks this is, senior, Michelle Hawkins answered that she thinks teenagers take their cell phones to school with them to keep in contact with their parents, and to make sure they have a ride home after school.

But are parental emergency scenarios the only reason teens bring their cell phones to school? Eleventh grader, Sammi Dugger mentioned, “I think most students bring their phone to school for talking to people in class or in the hall or at lunch. Also for music and checking grades.”

Some teachers even use the frequent usage of cell phones in school to their advantage, by allowing their students to search the web via their smart phones to find certain information, such as definitions of vocabulary words, and educational news articles. Not all teachers are so keen with allowing their students to use cell phones in school, however. Viera High School Biology teacher, Mr. Byrd, claims that he sees the use of cell phones in school as, “a distraction from an academic environment.”

Within the controversial issue of appropriate cell phone use rules and consequences, two definite responses are unyielding; “too strict” and “fair”. Freshman Barbara Brewster, a pro cell-phone-use advocate said, regarding cell phones, “I don’t see what’s wrong with it during school. As long as we, as students, don’t abuse it and get our work done, we should be able to text, listen to music, tweet, etc.”

Far on the other side of the debate, tenth grader, Blake Hoover says, “I think students shouldn’t use their phone at school just to text during class.”

While no immediate change of school cell phone rules and consequences is on the rise, we all seemingly have a strong opinion on the subject. One opinion, however, is one that most students and school officials agree with, somewhat. Vocalized by sophomore, Kristen Anthony, “Students shouldn’t be allowed to use them [cell phones] while a teacher is teaching, or while testing.”