Kimberly+Reyes

__Should Cellphones be allowed in school ?__

Dear Board of Education,

Cell phones should not be permitted in school. They can be absolutely distracting to the students, cellphones can be used to cheat, and they are a luxury and not a necessity therefore not everyone has them. Cellphones in school are just trouble waiting to happen!

Cell phones can be very distracting at times. If you did let teens bring phones into schools and their classes, they would use them 24/7 as they do now. Studies have also shown that over 8% of teenagers with phones during class watch movies and play games while in classes. They would not pay attention to the lessons and they can also be accused for their wrong doings. Last year in Ms.Poynter’s class, Angel had her phone in her purse but, it was on silent. After a few minutes her phone miraculously went off in her purse and everyone stared. She recieved a referral for just having the phone even if she never even used it and was appointed to four days of lunch detention for the critical event.

 Cheating or more known as “team work” on tests and quiz's have been known to show up more than once in many classes. Studies show that 73% of students with phones have been caught using “team work”. Kim has also been accused of cheating during a test because her phone had gone off in her pocket when she was in 5th grade. When she sat down at her desk, the volume suddenly raised. Then, in her next class, she hit the ring tone button and all of her ring tones started playing. Kim served a day of suspension because someone had sent her a text message saying, “I LIKE ICECREAAAAM !”for no apparent reason.

 Cell phones are a luxury, they’re __NOT__  a necessity, therefore, not everyone has one. People may say that cellphones are a great substitute to school provided laptops but, if everyone had a different phone, how would that be fair or equal. Laptops and computers at schools are all indistinguishable. If the Board of Education decided to allow phones, jealousy would arise throughout the school. An debate of who has the better phone would break out. What about those that don’t posses a cellphone? What will they use? Will the school also provide phones for them? For instance, the middle school students at Olney III Middle School, have been allotted Ipad tablets for educational purposes. Every student received one from the Board of Education. Will they do the same for us?

 We strongly believe that cell phones should not be allowed in schools. They can be distracting and can be used for cheating. Also, not everyone has access to them, therefore making it unfair for all students. Cellphones should stay outside of school grounds, where they should be.

 Sincerely,  Angel Calisay and Kim Reyes