Banning mobile phones in schools can improve students’ academic performance.

This is how we know

The effects of mobiles phones and other technology at school is a hotly debated topic in many countries.
Some advocate for a complete ban to limit distractions, while others suggest using technology as a
teaching tool.

Kids in public South Australian primary schools started the school year without being allowed to bring
their mobile phones to class, unless they are needed for class activity. All students in public Western
Australian Victorian, and Tasmanian schools have a mobile phone ban in place since for all or some of
2020. New South Wales also banned mobile phones in public primary schools, with secondary schools
having the option to opt in, since the start of 2020.

Education departments have introduced the bans for various reasons including to improve academic
outcomes and decrease bullying.

Several recent papers point to positive impact of banning mobile phones at school on student
performance and other outcomes. Understanding the evidence is crucial for best policy.

We found banning mobile phones at school leads to an increase in student performance. Our results
suggest that after schools banned mobile phones, test scores of students aged 16 increased by 6.4% of a
standard deviation. This is equivalent to adding five days to the school year or an additional hour a
week.

The effects were twice as large for low-achieving students, and we found no impact on high achieving
students.

Our results suggest low-performing students are more likely to be distracted by the presence of mobile
phones, while high performing students can focus with or without mobile phones.

The results of our paper suggest banning mobile phones has considerable benefits including a reduction
in the gap between high- and low- achieving students. This is substantial improvement for a low-cost
education policy.
Why Cell Phones Should Not Be Banned In Schools

There is no denying that cell phones have become a very important part of people’s everyday lives.
People at various workplaces across the world use cell phones to perform a variety of tasks like storing
data, editing files and seeking information.

The most important feature or the best thing about cell phones is they allow us to keep in touch with
loved ones. Apps such as Skype, Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp and more have it very easy for people
to keep in touch with family and friends no matter where they are on the globe.

Almost every household across the world has a cell phone and the majority of college students have one
too. The use of cell phones in education has been widely debated for many years now with so many
reports in favor and against the idea of banning them in schools are being published. This article will
look at the reasons why cell phones should not be banned in schools and colleges.

Why cell phones should not be banned in schools?

Cell phones allow students to get external help if they need it

The life of a student in college involves attending class, spending some of their free time with friends
and doing their assignments. Assignments are compulsory and must be completed at all costs if a
student wants to progress in their studies.

Sometimes students are given assignments that they are not comfortable with or have no idea how to
tackle them and might need some outside help to complete them. Cell phones play a massive role when
a particular student is struggling with a topic given to them in school.

Students can use them to get in touch with academic essay writers by accessing the internet on the go
to get their assignments done especially if they are a special needs student. College life can be hectic at
times and cell phones can ease the burden on students by letting hand over their assignments to an
essay writer.

Cell phones help students get ready for the real world out there

The main reason why parents send their students to schools is to prepare them for the future. The world
is very competitive and one needs to be very prepared if they are to succeed. Colleges and universities
need to teach their students how to use cell phones effectively to better themselves because they are an
important part of life now.

Cell phones allow students to connect

Communication is very important in a student’s life and if they are stopped from doing that, it can bring
major mental health issues. When a student is suffering mentally, it can affect how they perform in
college. Cell phones allow students to not only socialize with each other but also keep up to date with
what’s happening in the entertainment world.

Cell phone use with required restrictions

Although cell phone use has its uses, its use has all the ingredients of being misused and bring about
detrimental consequences. So education strategists should create effective policies such that cell phones
are allowed in schools with such restrictions so as to avoid distractions, misuse and other undesired
behaviours.
Pros and Cons of Cellphones in school

Pros:

Cell phones can be used in emergencies

Your kids can reach you in the event of an emergency and vice versa. Families are living through
unprecedented times, regardless of whether they attend private or public schools. This generation of
children has grown up with mass shootings, and specifically school shootings, being part of the news
headlines that they see every year of their lives. We are now also living through a pandemic where
school districts and families have heightened anxiety and true health and safety concerns on a regular
basis. Knowing that you can reach loved ones in a heartbeat thanks to mobile phones during school
hours can feel more important than ever in the current climate.

Cons:

Cell phones can be used for bullying and can have a negative effect on mental health

Student cell phone networks add to the spread of rumors and misinformation, which can be harmful on
a daily basis. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and other popular — and potentially dangerous —
social media apps can be even more of a distraction and can be used for cyberbullying. This is often cited
as reasoning for instituting a cell phone ban.

According to a 2019 study, “More than 12,000 13- to 16-year-olds in England found that using social
media more than three times a day predicted poor mental health and well-being in teens. Other studies
also have observed links between high levels of social media use and depression or anxiety symptoms.”
Of course, teens will have access to social media via their computers, but not having an iphone with
them for the majority of the day can help to prevent more constant and consistent use of social media
and can cut down on the overall amount of time spent on social media and electronic devices.

Cell phones cause distractions

Students often forget to turn off their phones in class, and ringing noises or text message alerts disrupt
learning and school work. Even if set to silent, cell phones can still cause distraction for students and
educators, since text messaging has become a high-tech method of passing notes in school. As seen in
the popular 2020 Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma, young people and even adults experience an
addictive need to check their cell phones and notifications whenever the phone is available. This would
point to the fact that even the mere presence of the cell phone can be distracting, even when the sound
is turned off or if the phone is powered off altogether. The increased screen time has also been found to
have harmful effects on learning and development.