From a teacher’s perspective, phones are the embodiment of the student mind. Everything teenagers do revolves around their cell phones, especially in the modern era. Our lives are especially dictated by our overall performance at school, meaning that any distractions could deter students from success. This raises the question: Should cellphones be allowed in class?

In an in-class environment, students are often given homework, classwork and lectures based on the subjects being taught. They have limited tools to use when completing work in class or on campus. If phones were to be used in class, there should be limitations set. Better yet, repercussions should be made if any student is misusing their cell phone. Teachers would obviously have to monitor the activity on students’ cell phones closely; the same way they do for district issued Chromebooks and laptops. There aren’t any widely used methods for watching another student’s phone, meaning a teacher would have to stick with their judgment.

With phones being the most easily accessible and user-friendly electronic devices on the planet, it should not be forgotten that many of the apps we use on school issued Chromebooks are available on mobile devices too. It would make a little more sense if the class didn’t utilize phones throughout the entire curriculum because they won’t be needed for every aspect of class. Phones should be used the same way we use calculators, they’re there if we need them.

Phone addiction is a very real problem that many schools have to deal with, and throughout campus students seem to struggle with the addiction themselves. This objectively stunts their academic performance, and the only way to combat this problem is by strictly limiting cell phone usage, similar to what was mentioned earlier. Teachers should assign agreements for the parents/guardians to read with their children. These forms could go over the many regulations that students in the classroom need to follow in order to maintain their phone privileges throughout the year. In the long run, not everyone is going to break their bad cell phone habits if order is presented in the classroom.