The ever-rising popularity of refurbished cellular phones is making it affordable for many parents who want to keep track of their teenagers to buy them cellular devices. And, of course, those same teens are bringing the phones with them to schools, causing disruptions and disputes as to whether cell phones should be banned in schools. Both sides have valid points.

Reasons To Ban Phones In Schools

The most obvious reason not to allow phones in middle schools and high schools is that they disrupt class; they make noise, they play music, and they can even allow students to do things like play video games in the middle of lectures. Many teachers and administrators argue that the maturity level present at these ages is not yet high enough to ensure that even used Verizon cell phones would only be used in appropriate, emergency situations. These arguments are typically based on experience. It is common these days for students to be caught using their cell phones in class or even sneaking away into the hallway or away from the school to make calls during school hours. Some teachers have even reported catching kids using phones to cheat on tests.

Why Phones Should be Allowed in Schools

As any administrator knows, family emergencies are common when dealing with the large numbers of kids that typically go to a single school. If every student was allowed to have a refurbished cell phone on them at all times, and the numbers of messages that had to be conveyed to students through the office were reduced, the efficiency of office employees could be increased significantly. Additionally, there is the students’ peace of mind to consider. It is much easier for a students going through family emergencies to concentrate on school if they know they will be alerted immediately at any change in the medical condition of a loved one. Furthermore, many high school students have jobs and drive their own cars to school. This kind of responsibility should be encouraged, and allowing students a way to contact their job and a ride if their car breaks down on the drive from school to work is one way to encourage it.

My Thoughts on the Matter

I believe that the reasons for not banning refurbished cell phones outweigh those for banning them, provided that teachers and administrators maintain the right to confiscate until the end of the day any device that is misused or becomes a disruption. I am not as concerned as others about the possibility of cheating via text message; I think if the teacher is not paying enough attention to be able to hear or see a cell phone being used while the students are taking a test, then there are plenty of other methods of cheating the students would be able to use just as effectively as texting.

The final decision should come down to the parents. Parents: you should know your child better than does your child’s teacher or administrator. Make an educated judgment about the maturity level of your child before allowing them to take their phone to school with them.

People have developed a different image on law enforcement given the impact of television shows such as CSI: Miami, and computer forensics training careers seem more popular than ever. Many students are now applying for computer forensics classes in middle schools and high schools. The opinions in favor and against such courses are divided and a hot debate was initiated. The proponents of forensics classes claim that such programs keep children and adolescents’ interest vivid, but there are other critical voices that fear this may lead to turning violence into something sensational. Additionally, the ethical questions would be more or less disturbing and the moral concerns are not to be overlooked at all.

In normal conditions, forensics classes ought to be approached with utmost care so that the focus should remain on citizen and social advantages. Opinions differ even among teachers. The introduction of the subject in the curriculum has already involved the implication of two hundred American teachers in forensics classes. Despite concerns, positive outcome is not at all negligible. Traditional biology will hardly trigger the same type of student participation as forensics classes. The controversy is there to last and some parents will often object to the content of the courses.

If science is the main concern and not violence and the sensation it creates, then forensic science colleges may have a future and prove pertinent to educational goals. The teachers on the other hand are compelled to choose their material carefully so that the impact on students is a positive one. We should clarify one other element here: forensics classes are not compulsory but elective. College students don’t have to take them if they are not interested in the subject or if their parents have objections to it. No matter what the situation, forensic classes seem like an experiment, and in some people’s opinion it is definitely not a very positive one.

In fact, it is very difficult to take a certain attitude towards forensics classes because they will undoubtedly cause some mixed feelings and controversies. On the one hand we may express concern concerning the future of computer forensics education, but on the other we can understand the reason why such courses are appealing and interesting. Then, why have we come to the point where children and teenagers can’t find science interesting unless it is taught in a criminal justice context? There is no easy or simple answer to these dilemmas, but one thing is for sure, there is something going on right under our nose. We can either oppose or fight it!

The need for literacy programs in high school is obvious. The 2008 national testing exams indicated that 38% of graduating seniors were reading below the standard basic level. An international comparison of reading comprehension and performance showed that in the United States, students in grades 11 and 12 scored close to the bottom, trailing students in Brazil, Indonesia and other developing countries.

Many teachers were not surprised at these findings. They said it confirmed that even students who read well enough in the lower primary grades may encounter some trouble with reading later. In both middle schools and high schools, teachers usually consider themselves to be “content specialists” and believe that elementary school teachers are the ones who should be helping children to improve reading skills. One method of turning that around is to secure ongoing development by working with a literacy specialist who will coach the teachers on the best way of infusing literacy instruction while teaching.

There has been some movement in the right direction, such as the No Child Left Behind Act, which was signed into law in 2002. In general it says that states must develop and administer assessments in the basic literacy skills if they wish to continue to receive federal funding. These exams are given to students in certain grades in order to evaluate and measure improved skills. In addition, many states require high school seniors to pass an exit test if they want to graduate.

If you need further proof that a standardized literacy program is needed for students, then consider the fallout from poor writing and reading abilities in post secondary circles as well, as 73% of employers have rated the reading and writing abilities of recent graduates as “fair” or “poor.” Over a third of the undergraduates needed remedial writing and reading courses during the first year or two in college.

Gaining insights into the reading process helps students to read for recreation, as well as providing a way to help them with their problem solving abilities. After going over the current research that is available on the reading process, school officials decided that students were not being provided with enough tools to successfully complete their reading goals. In the high school literacy programs, the teachers are encouraged to make the reading portion of their lessons more interactive. To see if these programs have merit, all you have to do is read some of the personal testimonies that are given by both students and teachers.

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