Put Your Cell Phones Away

In school, all I ever heard was "turn off your cell phones". It was natural for me as a student to put my cell phone away until the bell rang. I would sneak a text message in when the teacher wasn't looking or check my e-mail at lunch, but never would I be on my cell phone during the class. If students had cell phones out during class, tachers could kick them out. THey were thought of as distractions. Today, cell phones can be helpful during school. Students can find out answers to questions and learn more about a topic that is being taught. I can see where the teacher is coming from but I also know that cell phones will be more of a distraction then useful. Students can go on facebook and twitter while the teacher thinks they are looking up something that has to do with the class. It is easy for students to close out of the tab that they were on if the teacher asks to see what they are looking at. Computers are expensive for schools, however I don't think that having students take their cell phones out is good. It can also be a sticky situation for teachers to give out their personal numbers to students and teachers. After school hours are done, a student or parent should only contact teachers through the school or through email. I don't think calling a teachers cell phone is appropriate. Not all students have cell phones that have internet access which can make them feel left out. I think classroom computers is fine for students and cell phones should not be used in the classroom.