Did you hear that phones are banned in the classroom?
Big Idea: Digital Distractions – Social Media and Device Management
Alright, let’s talk about the phone ban. I was in high school just before the peak of social media and phones being problematic (graduated 2019) and can say it was damaging for a lot of classes. However, there were far more students who would be productive despite the phone being accessible than students who would be off-kilter as a result. Social media has taken a further grip on the classroom in years since and I cannot speak entirely to it, but I can’t see things changing that much compared to how it was a few years back. So what is the cellphone ban really doing?
The cellphone ban seems to target students who would otherwise be unengaged in class. This does make it valuable, as it cuts these students off from distracting friends and themselves through social media and online content. However, it feels like more of a patchwork fix due to a problem spiralling out of control. People have slacked off in class since time immemorial. Taking phones away can help with the issue, as social media is designed to be addictive, but the core of the issue is engagement.
Cellphones are now one of the most vital parts of civilization; they are a monument of connection for students and can become something they rely on for safety and comfort (outside of delivery of social media). Just because we grew up without the need for constant connection to parents, loved ones, and friends is it right to strip that away? Or is it just a repeating symptom of the times when the older generation sees the younger as soft in some way?
What I’m trying to say is that the act of taking away phones outright is a bit overkill in my opinion, thus the ability for teachers to choose if it is necessary is much appreciated. All of the art classes I have attended in our link to practice have not required the removal of cell phones outright. Perhaps a phone has been confiscated after repeated offences but overall it is no different from how it was when I was in high school. The phone is an incredible tool for learning and in the art classroom, it is practically required at times. If I want to show students something and don’t have computer access, or if students want to show me something it is always going to be the best option. No classroom can have an infinite amount of reference books. So many students work from images on their phones or want to listen to their music while working. Taking away the phone in the art classroom detracts from the learning as a whole. Art is self-expression. How are you supposed to express yourself if you have no way to access the things you want to reference and show?
Modern culture is not being put into reference books, it is within memes, album covers, comics, photos and so much more. Taking the sources of inspiration from the students will not lead to more creative and interesting pieces. It will just conform them to the resources of the classroom.