Policy on the Feasibility of Cell Phone Use in Schools Essay Example

that many parents had concerns about uncontrolled internet exposure to their kids (Paquette, 2016). Cell phones expose the students to cyber bullying, sexually oriented content, materials that are profane and obscene. Playing cell phone games and listening to music also act as distractions to students during instructional time. The poll sought to know from 5,436 students what their activities online entailed. 59% confirmed they engaged in online games, 51% were online to stream or download entertainment content while 52% perused through social media (Trucano, 2016).

Such findings have posed major challenges in the efforts to try and bring technology to the classroom.

Fiscal Management Considerations

Implementation of this policy would require some financial engagement in terms of acquiring gadgets and the equipment to support the working of the gadgets. Each school would need to invest in networking equipment such as Wi-Fi routers in the classrooms and a common control room to house the internet server. In addition to that there would be the cost of installing the necessary cable wiring to support the network system.

This would cost a school approximately C$ 500 for the initial set up, then a monthly charge of C$ 200 (Statcan, 2016). Another aspect of the costs would be hiring personnel to manage the networking system and training of teachers and students on the best practices of cell phone use in schools. These are mainly one off costs that would be incurred in the implementation stage. The salaries of the personnel (approximately C$ 4,000 per month) and the maintenance of the systems are the only costs that would be recurring every year (Statcan, 2016). It is worth noting that, the policy would

also cut on the cost incurred in too much paper work. As a result of using the policy, minor communications to the students and stuff could be done via the cell phones.

Some educational materials could be accessed online, thus reducing the cost of acquiring physical books. Similarly, digital material dose not tear and wear (Trucano, 2016). Therefore the cost of replacing damaged books would be minimized. The government would provide for the funding to facilitate this policy.

Options

Personal computers

Personal computer refers to a small and fairly cheap computer that is mainly designed for the use of an individual. Advantages:

• They operate software with full features.
• Their screen size is relatively large.
• Their storage capacity is huge.
• They are able to operate several programs simultaneously.

Disadvantages:

1. Their cost is relatively high.
2. The software can be expensive.
3. They use more power and need regular charging.
4. They are bulky as compared to cell phones and tablets and may require more space.
5. The user interface is less friendly as majority lack touch screens.

Personal computers seem better because of their large storage capacity and an expansive screen, but they are not ideal for a school setting - especially for the students.

Personal computers are not recommended for this policy.

Cell phones

A cell phone is a small communication gadget that an individual can move around with. They usually connect to the phone systems through radio waves instead of wires. Advantages:

1. They are cheaper with average prices ranging from C$100 to C$500 (Trucano, 2016).
2. They are more portable and weigh less making them able to carry around.
3. Most have touch screens easing the navigation
   

while using.

Disadvantages:

1. The small screen can inhibit faster typing and eligibility of content for people with eye disorders.
2. They may not be able to run certain software.
3. Due to the small size they are more likely to be stolen.

Cell phones have the most applicable features to fit well in the school setting due to their portability and less power consumption (Trucano, 2016). Cell phones are recommended to be implemented with this policy.

Implications

The implementation of this policy on the use of cell phones would require stipulated regulations to guide the usage as follows:

• During instructional time, the students are not allowed to have the cell phones.
• The cell phones should always be used in a manner that is morally ethical and supports the learning and teaching process.
• In a case where the cell phone is misused or rather abused, the student should take responsibility for their action.
• If a case concerning the use of the cell phone is criminal, it should be forwarded to the concerned authority.
• Teachers are responsible for the guiding the students in the appropriate use of cell phones.
• If a student violates any part of these regulations, the teacher has the authority to confiscate and hand over the cell phone to the school administrators.
• It is the duty of the school administrators to provide facilitation of training on the appropriate use of cell phones in the school.

Valk, Rashid & Elder (2010)

observe that in the case that the availability of the cell phone is interfering with the priority of the school, which is learning, the school administration has the moral authority to deny such a student the privilege.

This may be accustomed by a continued disregard for the above regulations by a student (Cranston, 2016).

Legislation Required

Each person has a right to privacy (The Canadian Constitution, 2016). Therefore, confiscating a student’s cell phone may amount to invading their right to privacy. Similarly, barring stubborn students from using cell phones in the school may come across as discrimination.

Cranston (2016) explains that, to avoid this ambiguity or conflicting interests, the school would draft a contract for the use of the cell phones. The contract should clarify:

• In which school settings, both on and off site, where the cell phones are prohibited
•  Regulation of the cell phones in school events
• Where the cell phone ought to be kept while in class
• How to keep the cell phones safe for supervision after school
• In what specific circumstances may the capturing and sharing of photos or videos of other people in the school be allowed

Agreement to use the cell phone should mean the involved parties have taken responsibility (Cranston, 2016). In addition to that, it should be clear to what extent is the agreement binding and the method of enforcing the rules.

Consultations

Stakeholder Consultations

The parents and students are expected to support this policy in the sense that they are the most immediate beneficiaries. However, some parents harbor skeptical thoughts that, such a policy is bound would affect their students’ education negatively if it is not diligently

managed (Valk et al, 2010).

Inter-Agency Consultations

There would be needed to hold talks with the department of finance specifically with the Economic and Fiscal Policy Branch.

This would deliberate on the sustainability of the policy and enable the Minister of finance make the necessary arrangements with parliament to allocate the funding for this policy. The Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development should also be made aware of the policy in order to forge essential partnerships with the schools’ policy.

Communications Plan

The secretary at The Minister’s office should make sure that The Minister and all the departments that are mentioned in this policy are served with copies of the same. It will also be prudent for the various decision makers to restrain from giving information about the policy without a consensus from all the engaged parties. However, one can give their personal opinion as it is a right entitled in the constitution (The Canadian Constitution, 2016).

Recommended Decision

This policy recommends that the cell phone be incorporated in the school system rather than personal computers.

This would see the learners prepare for the professional world where all the technology will be available for them. Therefore, it would instill the quality of being responsible for one’s action. Due to the fact that cell phones expose students to the unrestricted world of the internet, strict measures should be adopted to deter the misuse and abuse of the gadgets. The Minister of Education and the Minister of Finance should have the last say after reviewing the policy and its implication regarding the implementation.

References

1. Diane Paquette (2016). Cbc.ca. Researchers say higher grades in schools with cellphone bans. Retrieved
   

25 May 2016, from http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/school- cellphone bans-raised-grades-says-researchers-1.3086780