While teachers at Ridge High School might become frustrated with all students Snapchatting, texting, and Instagram-scrolling during class, cell phones also have their undeniable benefits.

Moses Rivadeneyra ‘19 claims, “We shouldn’t use phones because they distract us from schoolwork.” Moreover, the vibration or ringing of a cell phone during a test could be very distracting to students. However, using cell phones in class could also be very beneficial to the education system. For one thing, students can use educational apps on their cell phones, such as calculators, Edmodo, and Google Classroom. They can use their phones to research information for their classes. In addition, cell phones give students the ability to check their grades and homework assignments online during their free periods or in the hallways.

Sreekar Madabushi ’20 comments, “I think it is helpful to students because the easy availability of technology is beneficial to student research and studies.”

Furthermore, students can use their cell phones in case of an emergency. If somebody is severely injured, a cell phone would give the students the power to call for help. If a student needs a ride home or needs a parent to bring something that he or she needs, he or she could easily contact their parents or guardians. Also, parents can use the Footprints app to track the student’s location to ensure that their children are safe and at school.

Cell phones help prepare students at Ridge for the real world that lies ahead. When students grow older and get jobs, they use their cell phones in the workplace to access emails, use software applications, or call clients. Khushi Kumar ’20 claims, “The cell phone policy at Ridge is pretty good because we have to become more responsible with our time and how we use it.” Using cell phones in Ridge can teach them to use technology wisely in professional environments.

As Austin Segal ’20 states, “The school’s cell phone policy is great: we have so much freedom, and I like to think we don’t abuse it. It just works.”

Cell phones give students an opportunity to check their grades and homework assignments online. They can help students get more work done during school hours.

In high school, students have a lot of homework and projects to balance. This could make it difficult to stay organized and on task. Cell phones can be great tools for reminders to students. Therefore, they remember to complete projects and study for a test in time.

Cell phones can also be used for communication in schools. Teachers can use mass texting services like Remind101 to communicate with students and parents. Students can also use social media apps such as Facebook or Twitter to stay in touch with classmates and exchange academic information.