What's The Harm In Electronics During School? | Teen Ink

What's The Harm In Electronics During School?

May 28, 2009
By BubbiG GOLD, Columbia, Maryland
BubbiG GOLD, Columbia, Maryland
14 articles 4 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
"NEVER LOOK BACKWARDS ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD!"

Lisa Left-eye Lopes


Why is it a rule that students are not allowed to listen to their I pods and use their cell phones in school? What if these electronic devices are for a good cause? Here’s a better question, why can’t we use electronics at certain times during school? It’s slightly unfair and I want to address this issue. I believe that the “No electronic devices including cell phones and I pods will be stored out of sight at the start of period one,” policy in Howard County public school system is inappropriate and on the behave of other students we believe it’s an unfair rule. In my opinion cell phones and I pods shall be used in case of an emergency, calculator and for organizing. I pods shall be used during free time and music helps with concentration. Electronics should be allowed because of emergencies, organization, concentration and for educational purposes.



First Electronics could help in an emergency! Now I understand that emergency cards are provided for the authority to call in case of a real emergency, but that is depending on the situation! Emergency cards are used if a student passed out, having an asthma attack or even a seizure. Now an emergency card does not always work. what if the authorities cannot reach anybody on the emergency card? What happens to that student? Now if the child is really sick, having an allergy attack or even injuries; if this student is capable to do so than that student should be allowed to use his or her cell phone. Now I did an interview and I asked an adult “Do you think that electronics should be allowed during school?” The Adult responded “Yes at certain times though, not during class.” I also did an observation this was during 4th period! I observed a young lady, who was not feeling well, texting her dad because the teacher wouldn’t send her to the nurse. In this situation I believe this was an appropriate move because the teacher would not send the young lady to the nurse to call her dad.



Next electronics can also help with concentration. I pods can be used for many different activities if necessary. I believe I pods should be used for concentration purposes like for example a computer assignment. Sites like Cognitive Tutor, HSA Practice Online Testing, and educational game sites require I pods. As long as the I pods are not distracting anybody than it shouldn’t be a problem. Authorities attempt to overreact and not see things from a child’s point of view. I interviewed a student who agreed with the adults “It’s dumb for a kid in school to listen to I pods and talk on Cell phones, it’s also a distraction.” I totally disagree with her response. I also observed during second period listening to his I pod while working on Cognitive Tutor. This student, before he listened to his I pod, was not getting his work done and he stayed on the same unit. When I pods were allowed in only that class this same student was able to complete his unit on Cognitive Tutor.



Finally electronics can be used for educational purposes. Cell phones should be allowed when the student is using his or her calculator to solve an equation. Cell phones should also be allowed when a student needs to copy down an assignment. Like an agenda book for example. Students does not always look through their agenda books, but a student is always looking through their cell phones. The student should be allowed to use their cell phones to stay organized. I pods can keep a student on track in class, but only for certain activities. Electronic devices are not just used for entertainment; they’re also used for educational purposes.



To conclude I do agree with not using electronic devices while the teacher is teaching because it does become a distraction. So why not just let students use it in the morning, during free time and in the after noon? What’s the harm in that? We’re in high school and we should be treated like mature young adults. Students can handle using electronics when they’re suppose to. Electronics should ONLY be used for educational purposes, concentration purposes, and emergency purposes. Electronics again is not only for entertainment pleasures but also for something constructive. As I said before electronics should be allowed during lunch time. Electronics are not hurting anybody, so why ban them right?






Sincerely,





Ashley S.

The author's comments:
I will like for teens and adults to read this and give feedback. this is from a teen's point of view!

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This article has 93 comments.


emmm123 said...
on Mar. 24 2011 at 6:37 am
This is a great paper, and i agrre 100%

on Mar. 23 2011 at 7:18 pm
odalis13 BRONZE, Egg Harbor City, New Jersey
1 article 1 photo 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
"never give up on yourself and others"

I think it would be cool to have our cell phones out. I'm okay not using it in classes but at least they could let us use it in lunch. all were doing is eating.

Lucy said...
on Mar. 22 2011 at 8:57 am

omg i need to hear my music

 


Lucy said...
on Mar. 22 2011 at 8:55 am
I NEED PROFF

Ronnie S. said...
on Mar. 15 2011 at 10:20 am

This is true but also just the harm of our cell phone and why teachers want us to put them away is because were not focesing on what there teaching us.

And so the teachers are only teaching us ofcoures.... but also im say that it would be a nice thing if we could have our cell phones out when the teachers are not talking and not have them say put your phone away or anything!!


7890jojo said...
on Mar. 15 2011 at 10:09 am
I like this article because its true why do they not let us have our ipods or cell phones during class.

loms said...
on Mar. 14 2011 at 10:16 am
good job

Sha La La said...
on Mar. 7 2011 at 12:54 pm
jaydog 123 you are really cool. KOOL KAT!

Lizzy321 said...
on Mar. 7 2011 at 12:52 pm
HIIIII(:  girlfriend, I totally agree with you. Great point!

jaydog123 said...
on Mar. 7 2011 at 12:51 pm
Girl I straight up agree with you. I am sick of trying to contact my family while hiding my cellular

Lizzie Rae said...
on Mar. 7 2011 at 12:36 pm
I understand how you feel about the immaturity with the electronics

gap725 said...
on Feb. 23 2011 at 5:00 pm
OMG! You guys are sooo lucky that you can even carry a cell phone around! At my school, if they even see that there is a phone in our pocket, you automatically get a detention!  Not once have we been able to bring a phone, much less an iPod! Plus Im in 7th grade! -.-

on Feb. 21 2011 at 2:03 pm
RedheadAtHeart ELITE, Mountain Home, Idaho
109 articles 0 photos 164 comments

Favorite Quote:
Love with open hands. - Madeleine L'Engle

I see where you're coming from, but unfortunately, not everyone is mature enough to handle being allowed to use electronics. I come from a town where a huge (and I mean huge) percentage of students are lazy and immature. Letting our school have free use of electronics would be chaotic. Until we can teach everyone to be mature and responsible (which is a long way off), free-range use of electronics in school is also a long way off.

on Jan. 20 2011 at 12:14 pm
Jesusandwordsfanatic PLATINUM, Fayetteville, North Carolina
49 articles 0 photos 31 comments

Favorite Quote:
Romans 14:8-For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

you give a very nice argument and I'm inmpressed with your academic accuracy in your paper. ;) this is a big controversial issue in today's society and i must give you props on your article....however i do have to say that rules are made for a reason. If one person took advantage of the allowance of these electronics to cheat or anything still worse, then others would feel led to do the same and eventually there would be a LOT of chaos and disorder amongst the student body. what you say is true tho....but unfortunately everyone is not mature enough to handle that freedom and so it is better to just say no electronics than people x, y&z can have theirs cuz their mature but so and so and so and so cant cuz they arent. then you just got indiffrence amongst the study body which leads to other things. so all in all the rule is good at where it is tho you did make an excellent point and amazing grammatical accuracy and format in your paper. GOOD JOB!!! ;)

on Jan. 11 2011 at 7:55 am
MarissaLaGrange BRONZE, Monmouth, Maine
4 articles 0 photos 18 comments

Favorite Quote:
This too shall pass

I see no problems*

 

Sorry for the typo. :3 And Sorry that it repeated my comment. v-v


on Jan. 11 2011 at 7:54 am
MarissaLaGrange BRONZE, Monmouth, Maine
4 articles 0 photos 18 comments

Favorite Quote:
This too shall pass

Cell phones and i-pods should be allowed at certain times, I agree. We have a rule where we cannot use them at all.

And the problem is, most of the time people have cell-phones for emergencies. So what if a family member died and they tried to call you but couldn't reach you? What then? You go to come home from school and no one is home because you couldn't answer your phone and didn't know what was going on?

Thats the way I see it, and music is a great way to focus, it's also a way to relieve stress and be more positive, As long as you use it wisely I see you problems using these stuff.

~*Rissa*~


on Jan. 8 2011 at 8:59 pm
aspiringauthor_ BRONZE, Fairfield, Connecticut
1 article 0 photos 324 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." - MLK Jr.

As I do not have a cell phone, I don't care really. All I know is, my school allows this (creative thinking). It can sometimes be distracting, although it is nice to have music while you're working... Just not during tests/quizzes. Be careful what you wish for.

on Jan. 8 2011 at 8:10 pm
smartchick118 SILVER, Voorhees, New Jersey
5 articles 2 photos 12 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The coroner will find ink in my veins and blood on my typewriter keys"

I agree with the cellphone/ i pod thing. my school doesnt really allow it but for a final project during school, were allowed to bring in our ipods. but why not on other days? some questions may never be answered...

on Jan. 8 2011 at 1:00 pm
llamagirl BRONZE,
1 article 0 photos 2 comments
I agree with the phone thing, but not so much the ipod.  You can hear music out the headphones, and that would be distracting.  I think tests should be off limits, but they should be allowed when doing like a quiet worksheet, project or when writing an essay. 

JustTaz said...
on Dec. 27 2010 at 7:04 pm

While I do agree about phones for emergencies, iPods or mp3 players during test is inappropriate. What is it is built into a phone? ^The student could text or maybe even look online for answers. One of my teachers used to allow that but a lot of people abused it by recording their study guide and listening to it during the test.

Although in free periods or after you finish independent work/test and it is near the end of a class maybe it could be allowed unless you don't hear a bell or the teacher start talking again. That would be bad!