Cellphone Ban: Should New York City Schools Revoke It?

The City of New York banned cell phones in public schools five years ago. And now, when nearly every teen has a cell phone and schools enforce the ban to very different levels, students are speaking out about how the ban has become outdated and should be lifted. Parents have argued that not allowing their children to have cell phones is a safety issue, while some students have pointed out that technology can be used for educational purposes. Should New York City schools revoke the cellphone ban? Take our poll and share your thoughts in the comments below!

Quick Poll

Should Schools Ban Cellphone Use?

Yes -- phones are distracting and it's too tempting to just whip one out under your desk if you're allowed to have it on campus.

No -- just because students have phones in school doesn't mean they'll use them in class. Plus, it's important to have a phone on you in case of emergencies.

I don't use my phone at school anyway, so it doesn't really make a difference to me.

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Comments

[davidegger]

02:07 PM on 11/08/2011

When phones get used appropriately in the classroom to further engage students they can become a book to learning. Look at how successfull products like PollEverywhere are in the classroom and corporate world. If students are using this technology, let's find a way to teach them with it.
http://networkingexchangeblog.att.com/enterprise-business/use-mobile-polling-to-know-if-you%e2%80%99ve-reached-your-audience/

[kwmom]

03:34 PM on 11/07/2011

Cell phones are not just a teen problem. It seems that I can't go anywhere without listening to others conversations or waiting for them to finish texting before they run me off the road. I don't see the harm in having a phone at school as long as there are strict rules as to usage. If caught using phone during class then phone should be taken away and only given back to parents. Then if caught again, the severity of the punishment increases. This technology is not going anywhere so to argue that they shouldn't have them is counterproductive. What effective means of dealing with everyone having a cell phone would be more beneficial. : )

[tubajew]

10:50 AM on 11/05/2011

They should ban them nationwide. These kids are on their phones 24 hours a day. There is nothing so important that it needs to be communicated immediately to another person. They should ban calculators too. Students can't even add a column of numbers anymore. What kind of world are we going to have if the future leaders of tomorrow can't stop texting for five minutes, can't focus on learning, can't create on thier own, and can't think for themselves.

[Macintosh Sauce]

08:34 AM on 11/05/2011

I've been a licensed substitute teacher for five years now. Believe me when I say this... Cellphones are the most disruptive thing in the classroom. If I had a dollar for every time I've told a student to put away their cell phone I'd be a rich man.

Parents that think their "Precious One" needs a cell phone at school are completely out to lunch. I fail to see the logical connection between my teaching and you calling your "Precious One" DURING my classroom time. Not only does it interrupt my train of thought while teaching, but it also interrupts students that are there to learn.

[gamer kid]

08:56 PM on 12/08/2011

i get whare you are comeing from but thats what silence on a phone is for.But why not let us text and make calls at lunch and in the halls

[Natassha Halverson]

07:15 AM on 11/04/2011

Should Cell phones be banned in school? Absolutely! First of all, dont get me started on kids even owning cell phones. Unless you can pay for it yourself, you dont get one, in my humble opinion. Not too long ago (I graduated 10 years ago), kids didnt own phones, and if we needed to call home, we used the school's phones. You had your friends at school, you could talk face to face even. So why need a phone there? It is a distraction, regardless of what anyone else might think, and has no place there. Leave it in the locker during class I say. Lunch and breaks are their time, so whatever, I dont care then. But kids these days are too spoiled, what with all the electronics they own, no spankings, eating what they want, parents trying to be their best friends instead of parents, etc.

[gamer kid]

09:13 PM on 12/08/2011

im 14. I got a ton of spanks, i dont eat when i want, im not spoiled by far. and what if the phones are all being used and your about to miss the bus? The world is not what it was 10 years ago and as for kids not having a cell phone what if they were at home all alone and your family does not have a home phone shuch as mine. I have type one diabetes what if i had such a bad low blood sugar that i colapsed and couldent get to food which would you chose? Me have a phone and call 911 or not and try crawling to food which might make my blood lower and cause me to die...