Persuasive Essay Sample: Cell Phones Should Be Allowed In School

Cell phones are an important part of everyday life, they help us communicate, and browse many different topics. Although they pose as a helpful and important tool when navigating life, the real question arises when it comes to using cell phones during class. Many believe that cell phones cause an unnecessary distraction when learning, though some would disagree. When incorporating cell phones into the classroom it may have more positives rather than negatives. Cell phones should be allowed in school because they help students to contact parents in case of emergencies, and help neurodivergent and foreign students to better engage in class, however, some may see cell phones as an aid to cheating. 

At this present time, school catastrophes are on the rise, having a proper communication method could help to prevent these catastrophes and provide family members peace of heart. It demonstrates this idea in “Debate: "Cell"ing safety in schools--are cell phones necessary for students since 9/11?” it states, “In an emergency, such as an attack, bomb threat, or school shooting, students with cell phones can instantly contact their parents or the proper authorities. Checking on a loved one makes both students and parents feel safer.” (Hastings). This shows the importance of having a cell phone on you, it not only could save lives but it can also get the proper authorities attention much faster. In many instances, students who have been in school shootings have said that if they had their cell phones on them, maybe authorities would have been there faster and prevented injuries and lost lives. To add to this, cell phones are an easy way to call parents in case of emergencies, it mentions this in “Should cellphones be allowed in school?” it says, “If anything goes wrong at school, students can use cell phones to let their parents know they are OK. Parents may panic when they hear news reports from schools. A call from a cell phone can put them at ease.” (Stamford). This demonstrates cell phones a hand reach away can help to prevent chaos in the classroom and out. Letting parents know you’re okay can help to prevent confusion and provide parents with peace of mind. Altogether, cell phones in the classroom are essential when it comes to the safety of the students.

Neurodivergent and foregin students are often overlooked in the classroom, not receiving the proper aid that they need in order to succeed. Technology, such as cell phones, may help to solve this problem, it mentions in “Screens in the Classroom: Tool or Temptation?” that, “Many professors and education professionals are discovering that rather than distract, strategically applied devices increase engagement with students, especially those with learning disabilities, who are on the autism spectrum and for whom English is a second language,” (Luongo). By including technology in the classroom, neurodivergent students are more likely to be engaged in classroom discussions, activities, and assignments. Not only this, but foreign students may find it easier to communicate with their peers and feel more comfortable when talking in class, all because they were allowed to have their cell phones. To continue this idea, it says in “Screens in the Classroom: Tool or Temptation?” that, “These tools also help students who have special needs. Arianna Esposito, the director of life span services and supports for the advocacy group Autism Speaks, says students on the autism spectrum use smartphone-enabled augmented technology and other applications ‘at a much earlier age than ever before, and as those students age out, and enter college, they have developed new study skills and they have used cognitive behavioral support that helps them be successful in the classroom,’ (Luongo). For this reason, banning cellphones in school would greatly affect how these students communicate with their teachers and students, it provides them with a way to easily express their thoughts without having to worry about not coming across clearly. These devices help to provide a stable learning experience which will provide a more equal opportunity for all students to learn. All in all, cell phones are essential learning tools which provide more good than harm.