What Are the Pros and Cons of Banning Cell Phones in School?

By Staff Writer | Last Updated August 4, 2015

Banning cell phones in schools helps eliminate a common social distraction for students. It also minimizes the potential for students to send out gossip or rumors that alarm people outside the school. A major drawback of a cell phone ban is that it eliminates an important emergency device between parents and kids. Phones also provide students security in a school emergency, notes Family Education from Pearson.

Many students use social media and texting to interact with friends on their phones. A ban on phones prevents kids from using their phones for social interaction when they should be concentrating on class or studying. Sometimes, students instinctively send messages about school events to outside friends. Dissemination of information without facts could lead to misunderstandings, misinterpretations and confusion. Bans prevent this issue as well.

Parents are often the ones who want their kids to have a phone at school for emergency purposes. A cell phone ban takes this important emergency tool out of the hands of students. If a kid does not have a ride after school, it is a bit more difficult for the student to get in touch with a parent. Students may also use their phones to get information on after-school activities or to get directions for an after-school errand. Some teachers even prefer to integrate cell phones into classroom activities.