Should students be allowed to use cellphones in school?

[Stellar Colonies]

I'm appalled any parent would want to send their kid to a school where they would basically have their whole identity exposed to the Internet. And students absolutely should be disciplined for using unauthorized electronic devices in school.

They're only unauthorized if there is something else the students must do during class.

Before, between, and after class, we're free to use them (at least at the high school I've gone to). Some teachers even allow them during class if there is a "free time" during class when the students don't have an assignment to do.

I'm only speaking from the experience of one high school, but this is likely relatively common considering the previous responses in the thread.

[Heloin]

I'm appalled any parent would want to send their kid to a school where they would basically have their whole identity exposed to the Internet. And students absolutely should be disciplined for using unauthorized electronic devices in school.

Where do you think these kids got their phones from, the Phone Fairy dropped them out of the sky?

[Brunswick-upon-Raritan]

In class, no. In school at large, yes.

Although parents could just do a blanket ban on an individual child's phone use too.

It is legal to photograph or videotape anything and anyone on any public property, within reasonable community standards. As I am allowed to take photos in a public park that may include children and upload that to my facebook account, I would think that students taking pictures of other students would fall under the same guideline, at least in public schools.

Actually most schools have policies about who can record what on school property, I don't think you can go and just spy around schools.

[Snakeden]

Also I don't actually think phones are a human right, per se--though they certainly improve life leaps and bounds and should be considered a near-basic necessity--but the poll answers seem incredibly biased, I don't think prohibition not working is the only reason to say yes, and there aren't any others closer to how I feel about them, so that's how I voted in lieu of better choice.

[Neutraligon]

It is legal to photograph or videotape anything and anyone on any public property, within reasonable community standards. As I am allowed to take photos in a public park that may include children and upload that to my facebook account, I would think that students taking pictures of other students would fall under the same guideline, at least in public schools.

Actually most schools have policies about who can record what on school property, I don't think you can go and just spy around schools.

And taking pictures of students by other students is not included in that policy.

[Brunswick-upon-Raritan]

Also I don't actually think phones are a human right, per se--though they certainly improve life leaps and bounds and should be considered a near-basic necessity--but the poll answers seem incredibly biased, I don't think prohibition not working is the only reason to say yes, and there aren't any others closer to how I feel about them, so that's how I voted in lieu of better choice.

Is it possible for me to edit the poll?

[Radiatia]

I think it's fine. I remember when I was in high school cell phones (which were just bricks that could occasionally send SMS) were banned in my second year and it was the most stupid and arbitrary decision ever made, just the result of some old people being scared of technology.

So yeah I'm fine with it. Obviously don't use them in class, that's just being a dick, but outside of that go for it.

[Kowani]

Being honest, prohibition really doesn't work with younger people once you hit a certain threshold.

[Stellar Colonies]

It is legal to photograph or videotape anything and anyone on any public property, within reasonable community standards. As I am allowed to take photos in a public park that may include children and upload that to my facebook account, I would think that students taking pictures of other students would fall under the same guideline, at least in public schools.

Actually most schools have policies about who can record what on school property, I don't think you can go and just spy around schools.

There's a difference between students taking pictures of themselves that just happen to include a shot of the school and "spying around schools".

[Brunswick-upon-Raritan]

Actually most schools have policies about who can record what on school property, I don't think you can go and just spy around schools.

And taking pictures of students by other students is not included in that policy.

Not all schools allow students to use phones, for taking photos or anything else

[Stellar Colonies]

Being honest, prohibition really doesn't work with younger people once you hit a certain threshold.

Yeah, I've seen students taking a quick puff on a vape during class a couple times before with the teacher either ignorant of or ignoring said vaper.

Large difference between those and a phone of course, but still...

[Brunswick-upon-Raritan]

I think it's fine. I remember when I was in high school cell phones (which were just bricks that could occasionally send SMS) were banned in my second year and it was the most stupid and arbitrary decision ever made, just the result of some old people being scared of technology.

So yeah I'm fine with it. Obviously don't use them in class, that's just being a dick, but outside of that go for it.

It was probably better when phones were just bricks. Nowadays people just upload everything on to social media, eeverything is about TikTok or Vine or whatever, and I don't think schools should encourage that.

[Galloism]

No phone should be visible in the school.

Invisible phones are really expensive though, and easy to lose.

[Brunswick-upon-Raritan]

Being honest, prohibition really doesn't work with younger people once you hit a certain threshold.

Yeah, I've seen students taking a quick puff on a vape during class a couple times before with the teacher either ignorant of or ignoring said vaper.

Large difference between those and a phone of course, but still...

God I hope this was a public school

[Neutraligon]

And taking pictures of students by other students is not included in that policy.

Not all schools allow students to use phones, for taking photos or anything else

And?

[Brunswick-upon-Raritan]

No phone should be visible in the school.

Invisible phones are really expensive though, and easy to lose.

That's exactly the kind of phone I had as a kid, an invisible phone.

[Brunswick-upon-Raritan]

Not all schools allow students to use phones, for taking photos or anything else

And?

Not all hope is lost

[New haven america]

Invisible phones are really expensive though, and easy to lose.

That's exactly the kind of phone I had as a kid, an invisible phone.

So you agree landlines should be removed from school as well?

[Galloism]

Invisible phones are really expensive though, and easy to lose.

That's exactly the kind of phone I had as a kid, an invisible phone.

And you lost it?

Figures.

[Heloin]

Yeah, I've seen students taking a quick puff on a vape during class a couple times before with the teacher either ignorant of or ignoring said vaper.

Large difference between those and a phone of course, but still...

God I hope this was a public school

Wha?

[Stellar Colonies]

Yeah, I've seen students taking a quick puff on a vape during class a couple times before with the teacher either ignorant of or ignoring said vaper.

Large difference between those and a phone of course, but still...

God I hope this was a public school

Of course.

[Necroghastia]

I mean, during lessons and the like they shouldn't be out, but otherwise? Not an issue at all.

[Brunswick-upon-Raritan]

I'm appalled any parent would want to send their kid to a school where they would basically have their whole identity exposed to the Internet. And students absolutely should be disciplined for using unauthorized electronic devices in school.

Are you like 80 or something?

I wish! What's wrong with being 80?

[Katganistan]

I recently found out that young people these days are allowed to use their cellphones in their schools.
Obviously, I was appalled. What kind of degenerate teacher allows that sort of thing? Is there no such thing as discipline anymore?
I ask you, would you want YOUR child using a phone during class?

They are, if they are directed to.
For instance, I had students working in groups working on presentations about the Edwardian era. We'd already gone to the library, and were back in class working on the presentations. One group complained that they hadn't found anything on the Crystal Palace, and someone from another group said, "I have all kinds of stuff from the database -- email me tonight and I'll send it."

I asked both kids, "Do you have smartphones?" They did.

"So send him the links, so they can get started in class."

The students were shocked that I told them to do it as well. Thing is: a phone is a TOOL. It can be used properly, for looking something up once they've asked permission, or improperly to watch basketball during class or text, which ends with it being confiscated by the dean if students don't stop playing in class.

Better to teach how to use it responsibly than ban it wholesale.

[Brunswick-upon-Raritan]

God I hope this was a public school

Of course.

For the record, 'public school' means something very different in the UK than it does in the US... I'm not sure which one we're talking about