The Controversy Of Banning Cell Phones In School

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Argumentative Paper

There is more than one side to the debate about whether cell phones should be banned in school or not. One claim is that cell phones should not be allowed in schools (Lee and McMahon). “Generally, there is no need for students to be calling someone or sending text messages during the school day” (Lee and McMahon). First, cell phones are a major distraction during school hours (Lee and McMahon). “Calling a friend to chat, checking email or viewing pictures or videos is not part of the school curriculum and distracts students from their studies” (Lee and McMahon). This distraction can really affect someone’s capability in school. Not only are cell phones a major distraction in school, but they also contain a picture-taking
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These pictures can even be uploaded to the Internet without the victim even knowing (Lee and McMahon). The counterclaim is that cell phones should not be banned on school grounds. Cell phones are sometimes an unwanted distraction while classes are in session, but “using cell phones outside of class time—during lunch, or after a student’s last class of the day—poses no distractions and is a reasonable use of technology” (George and Cook). To start, school administrators might me the ones who need to be taught; not the students. Often times they fail to see the difference in use of a cell phone. “School administrators can’t distinguish between using a cell phone during the lunch hour, or between classes, or after classes have ended for some students from a disruptive use in class” (George and Cook). Secondly, cell phone use outside of class is a different side to the story (George and Cook). Generally, banning the use of cell phones in class is a very different matter than banning them from the school (George and Cook). In addition, many of the teachers who are known as digital immigrants are very unfamiliar with this basic technology causing them to show negative reactions toward the use of this

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