Cell Phones Should Be Allowed in Schools

Can you imagine that my child got suspended for cheating, yes cheating! All because a student asked a question and the teacher couldn't answer it and my dear child took out his phone to assist her with her ignorance. As he was surfing the net pressing Google and typing in the question she accused my poor innocent child of cheating. Now any intelligent person would have been happy that their student had their best interest at heart, especially when the school's internet was down and she didn't know the answer. As my son tried to explain why he was on the phone, she yelled get out! You were texting someone in the class for the answer and furthermore, all cell phones are banned. Educators have labeled cell phone as a classroom disturbance and they have been banned in most schools across the country. But, is it possible to thinks that there could be, in between the deafening ring tones and the obsessive text messaging, some redeeming educational qualities to these devices. Any intelligent sound minded person would agree that a cell phone is not used for calling or texting alone. Cell phones today are so advance that now you can take pictures of assignments and notes, record lectures, record podcast, access textbooks. It also allows for activities like designing, animating, blogging, publishing, video casting, collaborating, networking, monitoring and commenting. Are you aware it can also be used as a tool such as a calculator, organizer and even an alarm clock and timer for activities?

You know I was totally enraged. Wouldn't you be? Everyone knows that students today are what persons refer to as digital natives or 21st Century learners. Wouldn’t it be in the best interest of administrators, teachers, and us parents to teach students how to use a phone ethically in the school environment? I am certain that any application that requires a data connection would not be hard to block. They could have students join a provided Wi-Fi network that blocks out any sites they see fit. But then again if classes are interactive, interesting and engaging then students would have limited or literally no time to be distracted with a cell phone.

The thing that hurt me is that everybody knows that cell phones can be used to conduct research. This can be done right from your desk, just like my son. Since I bought the cell phones there has been no more trips to internet cafe because he has Google right on his phone. In a class of 42 students, 40 students have a cell phone with internet. But the teacher would prefer to say she can't put the grades on line because the internet at school doesn't work, and government are not providing the schools with adequate resources and technology tools when students have these tools right in their pocket. Even Dr. Edmund Mansoor the Minister of information realize the need for technology within the classroom and the lives of students today. He wants students to be able to compete on a Global level. Doesn't she realize that the world no longer depends on reading and writing, but new literacy's skills are needed as well? If they don't have these skills they are not able to function in the real world and no employer would want to hire these young people. Did you know in 2012 the government of Antigua and Barbuda (Ministry of Education) and Digicel joined in the initiative to help promote technology integration within schools and distributed a total of 250 tablets to fifth form students across the country. If students can use government issued tablets that can also function as a phone then why are cell phones banned in schools.

Now all intelligent persons know that cell phones, tablets and even talking can be a distracter however, if teachers use these tools in the right way it can be promising. What confuses me the most is that they want to ban the cell phone that can take pictures of assignments, record lectures, create podcast and do many other things. And promote tablets instead. Cell phone is a defining feature of the youth culture. You see as a pensioner I haven't gotten my pension for the last six months and as people are buying tablets I only can afford the cell phone so that my son can call, text, surf the internet, and listen to music. You know how much money I saved instead of buying a tablet.

There need to be a change of viewpoint as it relates to the use of technology in the classroom. Where do the policy makers stand? Do we allow the complete use of technology in the classroom to include the use of cell phones. Or do we sell the use of technology in the classroom in a retail package. Students can use tablets but should not use cell phones regardless of the fact they both perform the same task. Now may be the time to review policy with regards to technology in the classroom and examine the benefits of the use of technology and really use technology in the classroom. The use of the tablets is one type of technology. Since the cell phone performs the same tasks they too should be used in the same manner the tablets are used in the classroom. It is with this argument your honour, why I grabbed my child's cell phone out of the teacher's drawer and that is when she grabbed my arm and broke my cell phone. I am suing her for the cost of my cell phone and my injuries sustained because of her ignorance, I can now afford the tablet.