Should Schools Relax Cell Phone Policies?
Should Schools Relax Cell Phone Policies?
Should Schools Relax Cell Phone Policies?
Randy Faris/Corbis
Some schools have relaxed their mobile technology policies. New Manchester High School in
Douglasville, Ga., is one of several schools that launched "bring your own technology" programs this
year. Students at that school are encouraged to bring their own smart phones, electronic tablets, and
other Internet-enabled devices to class, and teachers are incorporating them into lessons. Using
personal devices to enhance education has many fans.
Many schools, however, are cracking down on cell phone use by students. Freeport High School in
Portland, Maine, for example, strengthened its anti-cell phone policy for the 2011-2012 school year.
The school, which used to allow students to use cell phones during lunch, now requires students to
turn off cell phones during school hours. Supporters of such cell phone restrictions argue that the
devices distract students from learning and provide more opportunities for kids to cheat.
Is it time schools relax their cell phone hang-ups? Current Events student reporters Peter Brosnan
and Akash Bagaria each dialed up a side.
First, many students are excited to use cell phone technology. If schools incorporate that technology
into lessons, students will become more excited about their classes.
As cell phones become more like mini laptop computers, they can be very useful in the classroom.
For example, students can use cell phone technology to access online books, newspaper articles,
and other materials. When you focus on the positive uses of cell phone technology, the possibilities
are endless!
Finally, many parents and students rely on cell phones to keep in touch in case plans change after
school. Grace Hurley, 13, an eighth grader from Yorktown Heights, N.Y., agrees. "We should be able
to carry our cell phones in school because we may need to contact our parents in emergencies," she
says.
Kids can use cell phones to take pictures, chat, surf the Web, and listen to music. Those features can
distract students during the school day. According to a 2010 study by the Pew Research Center, 64
percent of teens with cell phones have sent texts during class. Those texts are most likely distracting
kids from their studies. Steven Hancock, an administrator at Princeton Day School, agrees. He says,
"Cell phones have addictive qualities that will impede student engagement and learning."
In addition, cell phones allow students to cheat during exams. Students can text friends or find
answers on the Internet, for example.
Finally, cell phones in class may lead to cyberbullying. Sadly, students may use phones to take
photos of other kids doing something awkward and text the pictures to friends. Gossip spreads like
wildfire, after all.
Their parents were stern and rigid, and the children had many restrictions.
Spanish cognate
restricción: The Spanish word restricción means restriction.
These are some examples of how the word or forms of the word are used:
1. High schools should not place restrictions on military recruiters. That would promote negativity
toward the military and discourage students from enlisting in the armed forces. Schools should
welcome military recruiters honorably, not keep them away.
2. The school, which used to allow students to use cell phones during lunch, now requires
students to turn off cell phones during school hours. Supporters of such cell phone restrictions
argue that the devices distract students from learning and provide more opportunities for kids
to cheat.
A. Students are allowed to use electronic tablets but not smart phones.
B. Students are not allowed to bring mobile technology into the school.
C. Students are encouraged to bring their own smart phones to class.
D. Students are required to turn off cell phones during school hours.
2. The passage shows two sides of this debate: Should schools relax cell phone
policies? According to the passage, what is one argument AGAINST relaxing cell phone
policies?
3. What can you most likely conclude after reading the passage?
A. People have mixed opinions about the use of cell phones in school.
B. Schools that ban cell phones provide more opportunities for learning.
C. If schools relax their cell phone policies, more teachers will start texting.
D. Most students agree with the policy to ban cell phones from school.
"If schools incorporate that technology into lessons, students will become more excited
about their classes."
A. to eliminate
B. to blend
C. to improve
D. to study
6. How many students have sent texts during class according to the 2010 study by the
Pew Research Center?
7. How would Steven Hancock, an administrator at Princeton Day, most likely feel if his
school relaxed its cell phone policy? How do you know? Please provide evidence from
the text.
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes
the sentence.
_______ more kids than ever carry cell phones these days, schools have to make some
tough decisions about mobile technology policies.
A. Because
B. But
C. Otherwise
D. First
1. According to the passage, what is the mobile technology policy at Freeport High
School in Portland, Maine?
A. Students are allowed to use electronic tablets but not smart phones.
B. Students are not allowed to bring mobile technology into the school.
C. Students are encouraged to bring their own smart phones to class.
D. Students are required to turn off cell phones during school hours.
2. The passage shows two sides of this debate: Should schools relax cell phone
policies? According to the passage, what is one argument AGAINST relaxing cell phone
policies?
3. What can you most likely conclude after reading the passage?
A. People have mixed opinions about the use of cell phones in school.
B. Schools that ban cell phones provide more opportunities for learning.
C. If schools relax their cell phone policies, more teachers will start texting.
D. Most students agree with the policy to ban cell phones from school.
"If schools incorporate that technology into lessons, students will become more excited
about their classes."
A. to eliminate
B. to blend
C. to improve
D. to study
6. How many students have sent texts during class according to the 2010 study by the
Pew Research Center?
According to the study, 64 percent of teens with cell phones have sent
texts during class. [paragraph 2 after subhead "No Cell Before the Bell!"]
7. How would Steven Hancock, an administrator at Princeton Day, most likely feel if his
school relaxed its cell phone policy? How do you know? Please provide evidence from
the text.
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes
the sentence.
_______ more kids than ever carry cell phones these days, schools have to make some
tough decisions about mobile technology policies.
A. Because
B. But
C. Otherwise
D. First