Should cell phones be banned in classrooms?

After reading, "Should Cell phones be banned in the classroom," my original thoughts were changed and the points that were brought up really made it tought to pick one side or the other. And because of that, I am going to place myself in the middle and pick both sides of the arguement. Initially, before reading the article my thoughts have always been for "No" cell phones should not be banned from the classroom. My reasoning for this is because many students need cell phones as their comfort blanket and their social life-line. As long as the cell phone use does not become a distraction to the learning environment and others in the class I would have no problem with students bringing their cell phones to class. However, with that said, I would not want them to manipulate and take advantage of the situation. Having a cell phone in class is merely a priviledge for the student, not a right. On the other side of the argument, I tend to agree with some of the points made for "Yes" cell phones should be banned from the classroom. The first point I found myself questioning my reasons and getting a small laugh from was when the author stated, "No true best practice has started out with, "have students bring cell phones to class"" (Allen, 9) (Have you seen a best practice start out with, "Don't have students bring cell phones to class?!?). Furthermore, the best argument for banning cell phones from the classroom came in regards to budgets and lap top computers. Cell phones would require the district to purchase who-knows how many phones for the students plus they would continually have to pay fees for texts, pictures, internet, email, and so on. "Any monies spent on phones and plans would be much better served with any number of other technologies. In this day and age of shoestring budgets and federal funding only for specific curriculum, every penny is scrutinized" (Allen, 9) So, in my opinion why not ban cell phones from class and use other areas of technology such as laptop computers, they will have most of the same functions as the phone just with more power, memory, and easier accessibility for others.

My personal classroom policy on cell phones would not be real strict and because of the few rules placed on the students and their cell phone use my hope would be that we could come to a teacher-student agreement that these rules would not be taken adavantage of or become a distraction in class. I understand that "cell phones can be leanring tools" (Kolb, 16) and should be used for that purpose primarily. The rules that would be in place regarding cell phone use in my class would be: (Unless noted otherwise) No cell phones during tests or quizzes, No answering or using the cellular for phone calls during class times, No bullying, harassing, or manipulating others through text, pictures, or calls. As for now, those would be my rules and if the students wish to use their phones for educational purposes to connect with others regarding course work, search the interent, and take pictures relating to class cirriculum then they may use their own phones for those purposes. The consequences for breaking or even stretching these rules is easy, the cell phones will no longer be allowed for a period of time. If the rules are broken on a number of occasions then the phones may be banned from the classroom for good. These consequences may be harsh but there are plenty other modes of technology available to students rather than just a personal cell phone.

I mentioned a few uses for cell phones in the classroom such as connecting with other students about class work, taking pictures to display relating to course cirriculum and searching the internet without having to leave the classroom for a computer lab or the library. Kolb also brings up a great use for cell phones in here article, "From Toy to Tool." She states that audioblogging is a great way to use cell phones as an educational tool. Audioblogging with phones will allow students to conduct interviews and take audio notes inside or outside of the classroom. Becuase most students carry their cell phones on them at all times, they won't have to check out and lug around microphones or recorders to conduct these interviews. Cell phone audioblogging will allow the students to make immediate on the spot interviews and other recordings whenever and where ever the opportunity arises (Kolb).