User:Hgonpue/Smartphones banned on Schools

''Over the years,too many issues have been surrounding the use of smartphones in school. Most administrators believe that smartphones are total distraction, and it is a mountain that hinders student’s success. Administrators also believe smartphones make it difficult for teachers to present lessons properly. Meanwhile, most parents see smartphones as a communication bridge that connects their kids to them while away from home. However, in this article we will focus our arguments towards the addiction. If smartphones are banned from schools, would students get more addicted to the device or not?''

Addiction

''According to Wikipedia, "smartphone addiction is refer to as Nomophobia, meaning fear of being without a smartphone." A survey conducted by few Research Center, shows that 54% of teens spend lot of time on a smartphone. In this survey teens found to be addicted to the device from the following activities: checking messages and notifications. It is also true that we swiped and clicked our phone screen 2,617 times each day on average. ''

''with those scaring factors related to the addiction of smartphones, banding smartphones would really be a solution to the problem? well let's investigate facts relating to schools that have banned the use of smartphones in the U.S, from that point we will be able to decide if the rule has made any difference.''

Why Schools Banned the Device

         Forest Hill Public School located in Michigan is one of the schools that took the bold step banning smartphones. The Superintendent Dan Bahm realizes that smartphone is a terrible device that disrupt student's ability to focus, and he also referred to it as a loud noise and train engine. Seymour High School located Connecticut took the decision in 2018 and banned smartphones in order to improve student's grades, and Wausau East High School located southern Wisconsin banned the device to enhance learning environment and social interaction among students. ''while these administrators believe that banning the use of cell phones in schools is a good idea and the policy has made a positive impact on the grades and social behaviors of their students. However, most parents do not see the policy good as school's administrator think it is. Parents are looking beyond kids scoring good grades and considering the safety of their kids.A research conducted by Pew Research Center shows that 48% of parents use the phone to track the location of their kids. If kids are prohibited from taking their phones to school, how would parents track their location?''

Although smartphones have negative effects on student's performance, however it has a huge benefit regarding safety and researching school materials. Here is list of benefits that smartphone provides for students and parents:

Benefits


 * Safety, smartphone helps parents track the location of their kids after class. Kids need to have their phones for parents to perform this task. We live in a crazy world that the unexpected happens.kids are vulnerable individuals that need to be monitor everywhere so just in case something pop up, we can be able to reach them through the phone. Imagine having your kids out there without a phone during 9/11 attack, how do you know if your kids are safe out there or not? It is important we think out of the box.

''Research and school materials, it helps take the stress of flipping through the boring paper book pages just to find a simple definition of science. Smartphones allow students use eBooks. Students get more involve in class activities when it is easy to type the word science in the eBook and get the definition abruptly. Smartphone has an app that allows you to take down notes, and taking away the stress of worrying about having pencil and missing notebook. It helps students record lecture and presentation severing as study guide and course calendar to keep track of assignments and quizzes dates. If you are against the use of smartphones in school, put yourself in the shoes of these students. Don’t you think taking away smartphones from students is like taking away the privilege that modern technology has offer to making learning fun and interesting? If someone takes away something that makes life easy, what do you think going to happen to you? My best guess is, you going to get depressed. This is no doubt, taking away smartphones from students will only increase their addiction.''

Do not take the device, it will increase student’s addiction

It was also proven that individuals with the addiction faced the following problem trying to withdraw: 


 * Anger
 * Tension
 * Depression
 * Irritability
 * Restlessness

Solutions

''with those effects related to withdrawing from smartphone, it wouldn't be a smart decision to ban the device. School administrators should consider the huge benefits and also ask themselves this question, will the policy increase students addiction to the device or not? I recommend that school districts and administrators put the following system into place that will allow students to use their phones responsibly:''


 * Every student should put their phones on silent during class time
 * An app should be developed and installed on every student phone that would be capable to monitor every app and website the student log into during class time. This will scare students from login into website and app that are not allowed to be opened during class time
 * Tough regulation should be in place that will allow students to keep their phones in the backpack in the classroom, and taken out only by the instruction of the teacher.

''If school districts and administrators set up these systems and uphold them with perfect regulations, I believe students will adapt them and use their phones responsibly in school. Allowing students take their phones to school will help keep every student to stay safe, informed, and connected to family while they are away from home.''

References