Most students want cell phones at high school

According to the Whitefish High School student handbook, "cell phones or personal communication devices with visual display are not permitted in the building during school hours," and "these devices will be confiscated by staff and turned into the administration."

This has always been a controversial issue among students and staff. This week, students shared their opinions on the matter through a random survey.

Surveyed students were presented with the main arguments on both sides of the issue and asked if they thought that cell phones should be allowed at Whitefish High School. Of 160 surveyed students, an overwhelming majority, 140 students, voted yes, 12 said no and eight were unsure on the matter.

Those who were in agreement with changing the current cell phone policy held persuasive arguments. The most frequent comment was that cell phones should be allowed for safety reasons.

"Cell phones should be allowed during school to contact parents in case of an emergency," one student commented. "In my case, the rule often prevents me from contacting my parents because they have long-distance numbers, and the school phones don't make long-distance calls."

Others noted that cell phones have practical properties.

"Cell phones have useful tools in them, such as calculators and stop watches, that could be used in a learning environment," a student said.

As for the possibility of cheating on tests and classroom disruptions if cell phones were allowed, proponents asserted that cell phones could simply be taken away during exams and class periods, or requested to be turned off.

"As high school students, most of us have the maturity not to let cell phones be a noticeable distraction," one student said. "Times are changing. The schools need to change as well. Kids need to be given more responsibility."

One student said simply, "I don't have a cell phone, but I believe that students will bring them more if you tell them no."

The surveyed students who selected no on the survey, however, were equally convincing in their arguments. Opponents argued mainly that allowance of cell phones would serve as a distraction.

"They are wholly unnecessary in a learning environment and are a distraction when they ring in class," a student said. "Cell phones serve no educational purposes."

"I can keep my phone in my car or turned off in my backpack anyway," agreed another. "There's no need to have it on in school. If cell phones were allowed, things could get really out of control."

Students unsure on the matter proposed a compromise to the issue.

"Students bring cell phones to school regardless," one student said. "I think if they're on silent or turned off during class they should be allowed, and students should be able to have them between classes, before and after school, and during lunch. If the cell phone remains a distraction, the teacher can discipline the student."

The opinions and supporting arguments for both sides of the issue are fairly persuasive, although when it comes to a majority, most students do feel that the cell phone policy should be changed.

But will Whitefish High School change an age-old policy for safety reasons in a technological society, or will it continue to hold its standard of "no cell phones allowed" to keep students focused and classrooms undisrupted?

We will have to wait and see.