In England alone more than 90% of secondary schools do not allow the use of phones during school hours. The question of whether mobile phones should be allowed or not is one parents, teachers and students passionately debate. 

 

One study — the first of its kind — suggests that phone bans in schools don’t actually help a child’s grades, health or behaviour.

 

On the other hand, another study suggested that teens who used screens seven or more hours per day were more likely to be diagnosed with depression than teens who only use them for an hour per day.

 

So should phones be allowed in schools or not? Before you even attempt to formulate an answer to this question we need to consider the pros and cons.

 

Pros:

  • Educational tools: Smartphones offer a wide range of different tools that could be potentially useful in a classroom setting.

 

  • Emergency communication: Phones make it easy for children to access their loved ones in a scenario where they may be in danger or need assistance. 

 

  • Cost effectiveness: Using students own personal belongings as an educational tool saves schools money for not having to purchase educational resources.

 

 Cons:

  • Distraction: One of the most common concerns amongst parents and carers. Notifications or the easy access to social media can distract a student instead of improving their learning.

 

  • Cyberbullying and safety: When phones are encouraged in school so is cyberbullying. Schools face challenges trying to monitor students social media. Cyberbullying leads to poor mental health and lower grades.

 

  • Academic integrity: Phones make it easier for a child to cheat in an exam or on homework. The easy access to AI tools like ChatGPT stops a child from learning anything or improving. 

 

Overall there are strong arguments on both sides, but the current stance schools and experts have is that the harms of  unrestricted use of cellular devices generally outweigh the benefits, as there aren’t enough studies or valid reasons to suggest otherwise.