CELL PHONES AND SCHOOL

How Cell Phones Affect the School Environment

When mobile cell phones were first released, they were only really used by the wealthy business man; the phones were so large that it was near impossible to carry them around. But then something amazing happened, pay as you go mobile phones were released, and could be purchased by any one of any age. The design of handsets got smaller and sleeker, and the technology that was being loaded in to them was mind-blowing.Then the inevitable happened and students all around the world started buying the latest phones, but how has this affected the current education sector? Let's have a closer look.Most schools have already signalled the cell phone as disruptive and distractive, and have set aside policies that forbid the use of them on school grounds. A major downside of these phones in class is that students can text there friends throughout lessons and miss out on hearing the teacher's thoughts and opinions. Students can also cheat in exams by texting the answer to one another.The modern day phone also comes equipt with cameras, these also add to the privacy pressure that schools around the world are facing. To eliminate this problem cell phones should be banned from being brought into school premises, or must be switched off throughout the day. There is no need to have phones switched on during the day, students should be at school to learn, not have fun. If there is a case of emergency, then parents know how to contact the school immediately.Another use of the growing technology in these phones are games, with graphics getting more and more advanced, students would rather turn the volume low on there handsets and play games rather then listen to the teachers. Further advancements will see students connecting with there handsets online and playing with there friends throughout the classroom.Distractions such as mobile cell phones do not belong in a school; there was no need for them in the past. So why have things changed? If you are concerned about your child's education being affected at school, then you are 100% right to be. Kids having a cell phone throughout class will only end up causing bad activities. A way for schools to get around this would be to implement a block feature, so that while on the premises, mobile phones could not pick up any signal. Although this will not stop the use of playing games on the phone, it will effectively stop texting and cheating in class.