Phones cause distractions in schools

By Kaliyah Green

As technology continues to evolve, smartphones have become an inseparable part of daily life. In classrooms, however, their role is controversial—are they valuable learning tools or disruptive distractions?

Cell phones can divert attention away from lessons, leading to decreased academic performance. Social media notifications, games and texting are all temptations that can easily sidetrack students during class time. 

Banning cellphones can encourage more face-to-face interaction among students. Social skills are crucial for personal and professional development and constant cell phone use can hinder students ability to engage in meaningful conversations. 

With the internet at their fingertips, students have more opportunities to cheat during exams or assignments. Banning cellphones can help maintain academic integrity by minimizing the chances of students accessing unauthorized information during assessments.

However, some believe that cellphones can actually help students learn and they can access educational apps or websites, look up information instantly, use calculators, dictionaries, translators and take notes or photos of important material.

Parents also like knowing they can reach their children in case of emergencies, and cellphones can ensure students are able to reach their parents if something happens at school.

Some students use phones to assist with learning challenges—like speech-to-text tools, reading or reminders for attention and focus. 

Although this may be great, research has shown that students who use their phones during class have lower test scores and overall academic achievement. 

A study by the London School of Economics found that schools that banned mobile devices saw significant improvements in test scores, especially among low-achieving students.

While it’s true that simply banning phones won’t solve all classroom engagement issues, removing them is a step in the right direction. Distractions like cellphones make it even harder for students to focus, especially in an age where attention spans are not so great. 

By eliminating the temptation, educators and students can foster a more focused environment where participation and active listening are more likely to occur. 

Banning phones can help students more broadly develop healthier habits around technology use and screen time. 

Schools should set clear boundaries; it encourages students to be more intentional about when and how they use their devices. This not only benefits their academic life but it also makes it easier on the educators. 

Teachers can still incorporate controlled, school-provided technology like tablets or computers, but only for educational purposes to ensure students remain on task without distractions. This can allow a balance between using technology as a learning tool and students having access to said technology while still focused on work.

Lastly, enforcing a no-phone policy sets a tone of mutual respect. It shows that the classroom is being productive without access to phones, which is a good practice to prepare for the real world.

Over time, this can shift school culture in a positive direction because it would improve focus. This can help students form a better studying habit and take more responsibility for their learning.