EDITORIAL: School should allow student cell phone usage
As of now, students are not permitted to have cell phones during the school day. This prevents communication during emergency situations.
Over the years, the Altoona Area School District has not allowed junior or high school students to carry cell phones while inside the school. Out of the other nearby districts, Altoona is one of the few schools that don’t allow it. Although the school board gives reasons why phones are prohibited, they all can be worked around with proper rules.
With not a lot of freedom in place in the school already, phones are just one more thing that is taken away from students. It’s important to have a source of communication to assure one’s safety. Teens are living in an age when things can get pretty scary; having a family member or friend to call in case of an emergency will not only help the students but possibly save them.
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Emergencies are just one of the many factors that apply. Brothers and sisters who attend the school together might need help locating one other for a various number of reasons during the day. Altoona is growing rapidly, and it can be very difficult to get anywhere. Contacting one another quickly without a phone is next to impossible in a school as big as Altoona’s.
Many teachers and staff members don’t like the idea of phones being in classes because they believe it will cause a distraction. To combat with this, rules will be placed in order to keep electronics off when there is teaching or working being conducted. Obviously, there will be consequences that come out of disobeying these rules, but that’s the privilege of being able to use a phone in the first place.
The main rules would include: no electronics on when teaching unless prompted, do not distract other classmates with the device, phones will sit on the front desk when testing and the ringer must be off at all times. Consequences will vary depending on the students actions. If it is clearly causing a distraction, the teacher will be allowed to take it and give it back after class. If the student refuses, they can face a detention or an in-school suspension.
At the end of the day, it only matters if students obey the rules of carrying their phones around. There is only one way to figure out if it’s an idea that can work and that is to let students have them.
Luna Ramos • Mar 8, 2022 at 2:13 am
students should be allowed phones. so they can be, or feel safe and to call in case of an emergency and to use it on school for assignments like math or google search they can be helpful in case of a tragedy on campus or earthquake to call 911 and I think we should have our phones to listen to music while they work more to help us concentrate it helps me concentrate.
Ryan Weaver • Jun 7, 2021 at 2:03 pm
Well you see. I am a personal believer in allowing phones in schools. You may think of me as an average kid who just wants to be able to snap chat in class, but I think that the cell phones can be really helpful in the school environment. This is an opportunity for students to do mostly everything they do on Chromebooks, but it fits right in their pocket. Also Wi-Fi blocks exist, anyone connected under the schools Wi-Fi can only have access to websites permitted to them. May I also add that, I see million of kids on their phones in class on a day to day basis anyway, so lifting the ban wouldn’t bring any major affect.
Baylee Miller • May 11, 2021 at 9:22 am
I think we should be allowed to have our phones,theres alot of times there was something going on i wish i had my phone, also listening to music is a big thing that could help alot of students,if students use it in class take it for that class period or take points off.
Madyson Wise • Apr 29, 2021 at 2:18 pm
I think we should have them because it makes me feel safer. Also it can help with learning purposes. If kids goof off and don’t use them right then that’s on them and their grade will reflect that
gianna stillman • Apr 29, 2021 at 2:16 pm
students should be allowed phones. with phone kids will be allowed to listen to music while they work, and personally i work ten times better whenever i have music i like. if i could were to not pay attention and just sit on their phone, that’s their fault and their grade would reflect that. Other than that, allowing phones has plenty of benefits.
Anthony Jones • Apr 29, 2021 at 1:49 pm
I think we should have our phones because they have all the music sites blocked so we can listen to music and I also believe it is important so we can communicate in an emergency situation
gilden pletcher • Apr 29, 2021 at 11:40 am
Yes, students should be allowed their phone. Kids can have a small luxury of listening to music, communicating with other friends, they could call family in case of emergencies. If a student doesnt pay attention in class, then it’s on them, their grade will reflect that.