The world is changing. In recent years, the number of people using mobile phones has increased rapidly. Now mobile phones are not just for calling, but they allow users to access the internet, text messages, take and send pictures, play video games, and much more. The variety of functions has increased dramatically. As more and more young people own a mobile phone, parents and teachers are concerned about whether they should be allowed bring mobile phones to school.
In my opinion, students should not be allowed to bring mobile phones to school. If they do so, this could cause problems in their academic performances, social and health aspects.
Mobile phones can act as a distraction at school. Students might use mobile phones during lessons without the teacher noticing. As phones are small, students can quietly and discreetly send a text or simply conceal the phones under the desk and play games. Moreover, mobile phones provide students a large temptation to cheat in tests. They can communicate almost anywhere and with anyone around the world. Thus, their academic standards would decline.
Some suggest that the school should collect students’ mobile phones before they enter the school in order to prevent students from misusing them. There is still a large possibility that students would secretly keep their phones in their bags. Students go to school for learning, not to waste time playing games or cheating in tests.
Another point is that mobile phones can put the owners at risk of long term health damage. Researches have proven that radiation given off by mobile phones can destroy or damage living cells even when students are not using them at the moment. A student who comes in contact with a mobile phone regularly will be at health risk. If mobile phones are allowed at school, students will be contacting the radiation given off by mobile phones frequently, thus putting students at risk.
With mobile phones around the school, cyber bullying will occur more often. Some students are bullied by other people. No matter whether it is verbal or gang bullying, it causes great harm to them. Worse still, with mobile phones at school, bullies can take pictures of that student and post them on the internet, gossiping about them, editing the photos, etc. This will cause stress, anxiety, mental and social problems for the student being bullied.
Indeed, mobile phones play an important role in protecting the students. They allow students to contact their parents or guardians, in emergency situations. However, because of the reasons mentioned above, schools should find other solutions to ensure students’ safety, such as providing phones for students to call their parents or guardians before they leave the school.
Consequently, students should not be allowed to bring mobile phones to school as it can affect their academic performances, social life, and health.