Cell phones during school hours
THE MAJORITY of us can’t deny that our cell phones may as well be glued to our palms. It’s our means of communication and entertainment wrapped into one portable device. Sadly, school, most times, gets in the way of us using our device. Some schools strictly stipulate when and where it can be used, while others prevent us from using it entirely. School actually forces us to ‘use our own discretion’, if you know what I mean. Here are a few situations where school and your cell phone may result in a clash:
■ You’ve won an all-expense paid weekend trip to your favourite hotel. The hotel is prestigious and strictly business, so when they say they’ll call to collect your information and requirements for the stay at 2:30 p.m., they mean at 2:30 p.m. Sadly, you have a test at 2:30 and your school certainly does not allow phones in class. The hotel will also give your trip away if you don’t answer when the call comes in. You’re in the middle of the test and your phone is ringing in your pocket.
Would you rather:
1. Answer the hotel and get a zero for that test? (50%)
2. Ignore the phone and lose your trip? (50%)
■ “I would answer the phone because I want that weekend! And it’s just one test.” ( Kari, 18)
■ “I’d have to ignore the phone. There are always other repercussions for cheating – you can’t ruin your reputation for a hotel.” ( Lamar, 18)
■ Your mother is seriously ill. She has surgery on Monday morning. She said she would call you right before she goes into surgery, but you know that you have devotion at school around the time she would call. Your teacher ensures that all students go to devotion in the morning, so you can’t miss it; being caught with a phone during your school’s devotion will get you an immediate suspension. Your phone is vibrating in devotion.
Would you rather:
1. Answer your mother and get a suspension? (85%)
2. Ignore the call and hope she’ll be okay? (15%)
■ “I would definitely answer my mother. If she died in surgery, then I would regret not talking to her just because of fear of suspension.” ( Christina, 15)
■ I’d just skip school that morning.” ( David, 17)
■ You have a Spanish test where dictionaries are allowed, but you don’t have one. You realise that you need a dictionary to answer almost every question. The Spanish dictionary app is on your phone, but you are seated directly in front of the teacher and if she sees you with your phone, she will confiscate it indefinitely.
Your Spanish average is suffering and your parents made it clear that you are not to fail another test. Your parents always make sure to check your grades.
Would you rather:
1. Use your phone and risk it being taken away? (40%)
2. Risk failing another test and facing your parents? (60%)
■ “If I fail the test, then my parents will probably take my phone or worse anyway, so I’d just have to risk the phone.” ( Aliyah, 17)
■ “Well, if I get caught with the phone, which is likely, then I know the outcome. In the case that I fail the test, I’m not certain what my parents would do; it might just be them forcing me to study more, which I could deal with, so I’d try at the test and keep my phone.” ( Daniel, 18)