School newsletter: phones in the classroom
Nurlan, Year 11: Last term our school introduced a rule that all phones must stay in lockers during lessons. I think it is a mistake. Phones are not just toys: I use mine to check words in a dictionary, to photograph the board and to look up facts when we discuss a topic. Of course, some students waste time on games, but they would find other ways to be distracted. A good teacher can keep a class interested without taking away useful tools.
Dina, Year 11: I disagree. Before the rule, half of my class was looking at screens whenever the lesson became difficult. Notifications make it almost impossible to concentrate, even if you only want to read one message. Now lessons are calmer, and I notice that people talk to each other during breaks instead of staring at their phones. Dictionaries and calculators can be used on school computers, so I do not see why phones are necessary.