Why is it against the rules for students to use their phones during breaks (high school?)

[renegade7]

Let me start by saying, I actually have taught a class before (tutoring over summer break) so I can tell you how infuriating it is when someone who was on their phone and not paying attention during a lesson can have the nerve to ask you to stop the lesson and slow down the entire class to repeat what you've been saying for the last 10 minutes. So I do think teachers are in the right for not allowing cell phones in classrooms.

But at my high school, phones are also not allowed to be used during lunch, or in the hallways between class periods, and I just don't get that. What harm could they possibly be doing then, if we're using them on our own time?

 

[Duskflamer]

I think the reasoning is that it's not their own time, even if it's a break in the schedule they're still in school.

That or it might be an overreaction attempting to keep people from "sexting" or doing other questionable activities involving cell phone use.

 

[Fiad]

I don't see the point in disallowing use between classes, during class I understand entirely. But between there is nothing that the phones are distracting from.

 

[Neverhoodian]

Probably because it's easy to forget to turn them off again before you go back to class. Besides, people should know better than to call a student during school hours. Whatever they're calling about can wait 99% of the time.

 

[emeraldrafael]

The common argument is it stops arguments. you let kids use them during breaks and they say "Oh well, you let us use them during breaks, we should be allowed to use them in class".

And if you tink a simple no is going to stop that argument in any school, you're severely mistaken. no matter what control your staff has, they will always resort back to that argument. so its better to nip the bud before it blooms.

Also, you know there are people who wil use them, and continue to use them once they're in class under the excuse "I started it in my off time i have to finish now" and they'll fight ofr that and make themselves the victim in the eyes of their parents and class mates if they're told to stop and action is taken.

 

[iFail69]

I don't know. I went to a traditional English private school so you'd think the rules would be harsher, but we were allowed to use phones during our breaks and free periods. If it went off in a lesson once the teacher would (depending on the teacher) either confiscate it for the lesson, confiscate it and read some of the text messages (I loved that teacher xD) or get mildly irate and tell the person to turn it off. If it happened again, then it was usually confiscated for a longer period of time and the student would get a talking to from the teacher.

 

[TheIronRuler]

Let me start by saying, I actually have taught a class before (tutoring over summer break) so I can tell you how infuriating it is when someone who was on their phone and not paying attention during a lesson can have the nerve to ask you to stop the lesson and slow down the entire class to repeat what you've been saying for the last 10 minutes. So I do think teachers are in the right for not allowing cell phones in classrooms.

But at my high school, phones are also not allowed to be used during lunch, or in the hallways between class periods, and I just don't get that. What harm could they possibly be doing then, if we're using them on our own time?

That's bullshit, BUT... it's to prevent unnecessary thefts. Because otherwise, it makes no bleedin' sense.

 

[fenrizz]

I don't see the point in disallowing use between classes, during class I understand entirely. But between there is nothing that the phones are distracting from.

I agree, especially in High School.

There is no real reason to ban phones from school.
I'm interested in what justification they give for this ban, if any at all?

 

[Aroth Khashar]

Its a combination of what Duskflamer said about it not being "their own time" because they are still in school, and the fact that its just not possible to allow cellphone use during lunch and breaks and manage to prevent their use during class. They are teenagers, if you allow them to have the device in the building at all they will attempt to use it without getting caught, period. Yes that's a blanket generalizations and stereotype, but it has been proven true again and again over the last 10 years and public schools just do not have the manpower or ability to not use generalizations when dealing with their students.

Also his comment about overreaction stemming from and attempt to prevent sexting and other questionable activities as partly correct as well.

For those wondering, I actually spoke with the principal of my high school about the issue and that was how it was explained to me (minus the lack of manpower/ability to not use generalizations, of course)

Edit, also the same reason pokemon/magic/yugioh cards get banned in a lot of public schools, other students my try to steal it.

 

[Broady Brio]

I think it's to prevent theft. You can't steal what's not allowed in.

Unless you screw the rules like 99% of us do anyway.

 

[ZehMadScientist]

I don't know. I went to a traditional English private school so you'd think the rules would be harsher, but we were allowed to use phones during our breaks and free periods. If it went off in a lesson once the teacher would (depending on the teacher) either confiscate it for the lesson, confiscate it and read some of the text messages (I loved that teacher xD) or get mildly irate and tell the person to turn it off. If it happened again, then it was usually confiscated for a longer period of time and the student would get a talking to from the teacher.

^Exactly this. I too have one of those teachers who reads the messages, which is questionable in its own right, but is amusing nonetheless.

Only difference is that I happen to be Dutch.

As to why cell phones are being prohibited during breaks, it beats the shit out of me. Smartphones are capable of a LOT nowadays, and I don't see the problem with a student roaming the Escapist Forums while he/she finishes his/her tuna salad sandwich during lunch break.

 

[Burs]

Quite simply put, its to stop a lot of cyberbullying among other things; someone put sexting, also to stop the mobile being used as a warning for neer-do-wells in case a teacher or prefect is heading their way, and also to prevent them gettin nicked!

 

[kazeryu]

In the hallways isn't bad that that's forbidden becouse you could be teksting somebody anwsers to a test. But by us it isn't forbidden to use your phone at breaks I think XD.

 

[brunothepig]

I never saw the point. My first high school was great, phones were allowed during breaks, mp3 players were allowed during breaks and quiet classes. Unfortunately my second high school was the same as yours, no mp3 player or phones any time. Of course, some teachers were sensible and just didn't care, it was just a matter of figuring out which ones you had to hide it from. And everyone still used their phones during lunch and recess. On a related note, it's surprising how easy it is to hide earphones when you have long hair. As long as they're black.

 

[hotsauceman]

I think its stupid to. I can understand if there are different schedules for students but if the entire school has a break then who is it hurting to let them use it. I once had free period that was the last of the day i i got to go home I was using my phone while walking to call someone who isnt even at the school. And i got in trouble almost. It doesnt make sense.

 

[Strain42]

Cell phones remind people that there is an outside world where they have friends and family. School wants to crush that!

 

[C95J]

We're allowed to use our phones out of lessons in school.

Hell, sometimes even the PE teachers just tell us to go play football, then whip out their phones as well

 

[Get_A_Grip_]

Because they can. Well that's the only rational reason I can think of... and it's not really that rational.

 

[spartan231490]

Let me start by saying, I actually have taught a class before (tutoring over summer break) so I can tell you how infuriating it is when someone who was on their phone and not paying attention during a lesson can have the nerve to ask you to stop the lesson and slow down the entire class to repeat what you've been saying for the last 10 minutes. So I do think teachers are in the right for not allowing cell phones in classrooms.

But at my high school, phones are also not allowed to be used during lunch, or in the hallways between class periods, and I just don't get that. What harm could they possibly be doing then, if we're using them on our own time?

Here is the truth. High school isn't about teaching and learning. when I got to college, I was told straight to my face that half what I learned in high school was wrong, and the other half was useless. High school, is about babysitting. That's right, babysitting. The main purpose of high school, and middle/elementary school for that matter, is to keep you busy and out of trouble for most of the day. They ban phones in the breaks because you could use them to cause trouble, or to plan trouble for later, so they ban it, because they're main responsibility is to keep you out of trouble.