| When cell phones first became popular, school | | | | not taking the opportunity to speak to other |
| administrators banned them from school premises | | | | youngsters when standing in the lunch line or |
| due to the connection between these devices and | | | | hanging out in the hall. The ability to conduct |
| illegal drug activity. Due to school shootings and | | | | face-to-face communication is found to be |
| the events of 9/11, the question has arisen again | | | | seriously lacking in the students that are cell |
| as to whether cell phones should be allowed in the | | | | phone users. |
| academic environment. | | | | A compromise has been reached in many school |
| Many parents argue that the devices should be | | | | districts. In these areas, the students are allowed |
| allowed if such an emergency occurs. They feel | | | | to have cell phones as long as they are shut off |
| safer knowing that their children are just a phone | | | | during school hours. This agreement allows for the |
| call away. These adults also point out the fact | | | | teachers to have a disruptive-free class room |
| that one of the reasons that their children have | | | | while the students still have the ability to call home |
| these phones is to enable them to have the ability | | | | during after-school activities. Administrators also |
| to call home for a ride after school activities. | | | | suggest that students have prepaid cell phone |
| School administrators on the other hand argue | | | | plans that limit the number of text messages that |
| that cell phones are more of a convenience than | | | | the child is allowed to send. These officials point |
| a necessity and that these devices have no place | | | | out that if a student is only allowed three text |
| in the school environment. These officials point out | | | | messages daily, they are more likely to use them |
| that the use of these phones are disruptive in the | | | | wisely instead of as a means to gossip or bully. |
| classroom due to students receiving and | | | | In the case of a school shooting or other type of |
| answering calls and text messages when they | | | | emergency, students using cell phones can |
| should be paying attention to the teacher. | | | | overload service lines and can also cause radio |
| Text messaging also creates problems by being a | | | | interference with the equipment that is used by |
| means in which students can gossip about other | | | | the police and other emergency response |
| children without the worry of being overheard. | | | | workers. Cell phone usage may interfere with |
| "Text messaging bullying" has also become an | | | | evacuation procedures as well. A child who is |
| issue between school officials and cell phone users. | | | | talking on a phone may miss important |
| Thanks to another feature that is now available | | | | instructions that are being given to them by the |
| on cell phones, these devices are now barred | | | | school officials. In case of an emergency, it is |
| from locker rooms due to the fact that some | | | | considered best if the school employees make |
| inappropriate pictures were secretly taken and | | | | any necessary calls while the students carefully |
| posted on the Internet within the hour. | | | | follow any directions that are given to them. |
| Another worry that many experts have about | | | | Overall, the use of cell phones by students is fine |
| the widespread use of cell phones among children | | | | if this use is limited to the proper times and |
| is the fact that these youngsters may be losing | | | | places. Otherwise, these devices are not a |
| basic communication skills. By talking on the phone | | | | necessity in most academic environments. |
| or text messaging their friends, these children are | | | | |