Cell Phone Technology a Serious Classroom Distraction, Says Professor

Because student attention and class participation are generally major factors in the grading process, addressing the distraction of cell phone technology has become a frequent necessity for teachers. Dr. Claire Summers, an associate professor at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, said in an Oct. 5 press release that there's an ongoing battle between teachers and students over classroom cell phone use that "has become a substantial problem." She said there's no disputing that students continually distracted by cell phones are unable to engage in the class as fully as others.

In times past, bored students generally distracted themselves with doodling, passing notes, whispering and giggling about anything that came to mind. Today, with what seems to be endless wireless technologies and the ubiquitous cell phone, students have other means to distract themselves or cure boredom. Between text messaging and surfing the Internet, there's literally an endless amount of material available to keep their minds out of the classroom.

In an NEA online article, "Should We Ban Cell Phones in School?," several teachers expressed their thoughts and opinions. A fourth-grade teacher in Tucson, Ariz., believes cell phones should "absolutely be banned from school." The teacher said cell phones are "nothing but a disruption to class instruction. The student (if he or she is waiting for a call) thinks about nothing but receiving that call, therefore blocking out anything that is being said, and it's simply not a necessity for being successful in school."

On the other hand, a teacher in the Northern Tioga School District in Pennsylvania said that cell phones and other electronic devices can be a distraction, but "students need to learn when and where a cell phone can be appropriate....This is one of those life lessons we can teach them. Technology is a wonderful and useful tool when used properly."