As government data showed in 2020, almost 80% of schools in America have placed some type of ban on cell phones. These bans are enforced differently at every school, from just banning non academic use of cell phones to banning them completely during the school day. These stricter bans take students’ phones away from them and outside of the learning environment completely, however, cell phones can be helpful tools in the classroom when used correctly.

First of all, cell phones can be used for a number of different educational activities that can allow students to learn in a more interactive way. For example, many classes will use educational apps like Kahoot, Gimkit, or Blooket as a fun and engaging way to go over material. Students use their phones to participate in these online activities and competitions that can make memorizing information easier just by playing a fun game.

As well as being useful for learning games, cell phones also allow students to easily access useful tools. For example, every phone has a calculator, timer, and clock which students may need for various activities. Students are also able to download helpful apps such as a graphing calculator app which is much cheaper than the one hundred dollar graphing calculator they would need instead. This use of cell phones for certain tools can save time and money for schools.

Cell phones are also able to help teachers and students be on top of their grades as well as their schedules and homework assignments. Many students use their cell phones to set reminders and due dates for upcoming assignments. Students are also able to use apps like Schoology and PowerSchool to check their grades and assignments along with any messages a teacher has sent to update them on anything and make sure they have everything they need done.

Finally, cell phones are necessary to have in the classroom due to safety reasons. It is always good for students to be able to have their phones with them in emergency situations. This allows them to be able to call 911, should anything happen, or contact their family if there is an emergency. Cell phones are overall just a good thing to have to be on the safe side in case anything should happen in the classroom.

To wrap everything up, I do believe that cell phones should be allowed in the classroom because they can serve as useful tools in several different ways and are necessary in emergency situations. However, I do think that cell phones should be limited and used mostly for educational purposes, unless students are told they can take them out. Phones can definitely be a distraction for some students, but they are overall helpful and shouldn’t be removed from the classroom, just limited.