Oliver Curtis English III Honors

The constant influx of technology in todays culture demands adaptation, especially in education. Devices such as cell phones and Ipods are being developed in ways that, if used properly, could prove to be extremely beneficial to both students and teachers. However, Bledsoe County High School policy states that the use of such devices is prohibited during school hours. This policy is becoming more and more unreasonable and contributes to the obsoletion of teaching methods; therefore, it should be amended. One of the main flaws behind the electronic device policy is the idea that it can be adequately enforced. There is no way to watch students at all times to ensure they are not using their cellphones or other devices. Students generally hate rules, and if we can make one of the most commonly broken policies into something educationally relevant, it would definitely benefit our school. Additionally, cellphones can be defined as the modern day security blanket. Banning the usage of cell phones in schools is like removing that security blanket. Being accustom to technology is imperative in the workplace and the prohibition of its usage in an educational environment is a disservice to both students and future employers. If students do not learn familiarity with technology through the school system, when will they? Rather than prohibiting all usage of electronic devices, school policy should allow it in a controlled environment that discourages negativity or distraction. We should make use of educational programs and applications that can be accessed on electronic devices with the purpose of enriching the overall learning experience at BCHS. Permitting students to use electronic devices during school hours has the potential to kill two birds with one stone. By using calender apps and data storage services, students can become more organized. Furthermore, the use of electronic devices can reduce the usage of paper and other resources that are a

constant financial strain on our school system by utilizing digital document and picture formats. During the Columbine incident, authorities were first contacted by students with cell phones at the time. This forms an excellent example of how cell phones and other devices can be used during school-related emergencies. As the popularity of electronic devices increase, it will be exponentially harder to maintain a zero-tolerance policy for electronic device usage. We must amend it now to leave room for the future.