Allgot

Ämne: Engelska 1

Årskurs: Gymnasiet Nivå 1

Tid: Ej specificerat

Text: The debate over cellphone use in schools: pros and cons

The use of cellphones in schools is a hot topic. While cellphones offer many benefits, they also bring challenges. Schools must carefully weigh the pros and cons when deciding how to handle cellphone use during the school day.

Pros of cellphone use

One of the biggest benefits of cellphones is their ability to give students access to educational resources. With just a few taps, students can research topics, use learning apps or watch instructional videos.

Cellphones also help students stay connected. They can easily communicate with teachers, classmates and parents, which can be useful for schoolwork or personal reasons.

In emergencies, cellphones can be vital. Students can use them to contact emergency services or report dangerous situations. Some schools have set up systems that allow students to report safety concerns anonymously using their phones. This helps keep schools safe by encouraging students to share important information.

Finally, cellphones help students develop important technological skills, which are essential for future jobs and success in our digital world.

Cons of cellphone use

Despite the benefits, cellphones can cause problems in school. One major issue is distraction. It’s easy for students to get off track if they’re focused on their phones instead of paying attention in class.

Social media is another concern. Excessive use of social media platforms can lead to cyberbullying, lower self-esteem and privacy issues.

Some students use their phones to cheat on tests or plagiarize work, which can go against school policies and harm their own learning.

There are also health concerns linked to prolonged phone use, such as eye strain and poor sleep. In emergencies, misinformation can spread quickly through their phones, causing panic.

Schools may face legal risks if students misuse their phones or if privacy issues arise due to phone use in the classroom.

Challenges for schools

Enforcing cellphone policies is difficult, especially in high schools. Nearly all teenagers in the U.S. have smartphones, which makes it hard for teachers to keep students from using them during class.

Despite the challenges, most teens feel that their phones help them do better in school. They believe the benefits, such as access to information and staying connected, outweigh the downsides.

Cellphones can be useful tools in schools, but they also bring risks. Schools need to find a balance, allowing students to use their phones in helpful ways while keeping distractions and problems under control.

Frågor

1. What are some of the main benefits of using cellphones in schools according to the text?
2. What problems can cellphones cause in the classroom?
3. How can cellphones contribute to increased safety in schools?
4. What health issues are mentioned as a downside of prolonged cellphone use?
5. What challenges do schools face when managing cellphone use during the school day?

Answer Key

1. Answer: Access to educational resources (research, learning apps, instructional videos), staying connected with teachers, classmates, and parents, emergency communication, anonymous reporting of safety concerns, and development of technological skills.
2. Answer: Distraction from lessons, social media issues such as cyberbullying and privacy problems, cheating and plagiarism, health concerns like eye strain and poor sleep, spread of misinformation during emergencies, and legal risks for schools.
3. Answer: Students can contact emergency services quickly, report dangerous situations, and anonymously share safety concerns, which helps keep schools safer.
4. Answer: Eye strain and poor sleep.
5. Answer: Difficulty enforcing cellphone policies because nearly all teenagers have smartphones, preventing distractions, managing misuse and privacy issues, while balancing the benefits and downsides.

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