To ban or not to ban? Educators, parents, and students weigh in on cellphones

Although many teachers strongly discourage students from using cellphones at school, parents and students think that prohibiting or limiting cellphone use could potentially be damaging to students' academic and emotional growth. — Image by freepik

One reason policing cellphones in schools is so challenging is because of stakeholders’ varying opinions on their presence in the classroom, along with different views on how the problem should be dealt with – if at all.

Simultaneously taking into account the interests of students, parents, and teachers in crafting cellphone policies has proven to be a challenge. For example, while teachers may want the constant distractions of cellphones – and the hundreds of notifications they deliver each day – removed, parents may desire the security of reaching their children at any time.