Most students understand the purpose of the cellphone policy; to keep students off of their phones during class time. Students understand this and some even agree to it. There is a reason why students might second guess this policy and a concern I share with said students. Safety.
We have safety drills at our school year round, but when the time comes for a real emergency what happens? Since we rely on our phones for safety services such as the police, It is necessary to keep them on you at all times. If you are injured in school you have nobody to call.
I am aware that teachers and staff have their cell phones on them at all times, and when the fire alarm goes off the fire department is called immediately, but anything could happen and it is not worth the risk of removing all student devices. Instead of enforcing a cellphone policy, students should simply be responsible enough to stay away from their personal device during the school day, and teachers should be able to reprimand them for using them.
Students who have inappropriately used their devices during the school day should have their cellphones taken away. But taking every student’s device away can be seen as a safety hazard.
Opinions are the writer’s own.
