There are various reasons people think school kids should have their cellphones with them in class. Most of those reasons are pretty lame.
Topping the list of justifications is the desire of parents to be able to communicate with their children at any given moment. Sorry, 21st century moms and dads, but helicopter parenting needs to be grounded.
But what if there is a school shooting? As horrific as such incidents may be, they are very rare. Students are at far greater risk of falling behind in class because their little brains are diverted by TikTok or a string of messages from a girlfriend.
Another pro-cellphone argument is that, without their phones handy, kids will not become adept at technology. Give me a freakin’ break. No one thinks young people spend too little time engaged with cellphones and all manner of other screens that connect them with the glories, perils and seductions of cyberspace.
Though there are occasional legitimate uses for cellphones in the classroom when students are under the direction of a teacher, the last thing America’s rising generation needs is more distraction. Above all else, the kids need to learn how to pay attention.
If that can be accomplished, Mom and Dad, you really don’t need to worry about tracking your child every minute of the day. They will do just fine.
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