Illustration of a personified phone dressed as a student looking sad as the teacher says, No Phones!

Illustration by Tom Garrett; Debate photos courtesy of families

Should Schools Ban Smartphones?

November 21, 2022

You won’t see mobile devices at Torrington Middle School. Last spring, this Connecticut school said students can’t have phones during class. They’re locked in bags as students enter school.

Some students were texting friends, sharing TikTok videos, and making calls during class. School leaders hope the new rule will stop these distractions.

But not everyone agrees with the phone ban. Some parents want to be able to reach their kids during the day. They say it’s better for kids to learn to use phones in a responsible way.

Here’s what two of our readers think.

My school allows kids to bring phones. But the teacher keeps them until the end of the day. That’s because a ding from your phone can distract your classmates. Plus, kids could text or play games. They could lose focus and get bad grades.

Also, some kids might use phones to cheat on tests. They could search for answers or text friends to ask for help.

Phones can be useful in many ways. They help kids keep in touch with their families. This is helpful if there’s an emergency.

Having phones in school can teach kids to use them responsibly. Smartphones help with schoolwork. For example, you can do research on your phone. Kids can also use their phones to keep track of when homework is due.