The trend of children bringing mobile phones to school is rising but there are many who think this against this. While many parents in Dehradun are providing mobile phones to their children, the teachers are not happy with this as they believe that many children tend to misuse the mobile phones.
Principal of Government Girls Inter College, Rajpur Road, Mohini Thapliyal said that the use of mobile phones should be banned in schools and colleges both as teenagers often misuse them. She also said that these days parents are themselves giving phones to their kids which is not right. Thapliyal said that in case of emergency parents can contact teachers or other members of the school faculty.
“We always do a routine checking in our school especially regarding mobile phones. Students don't use mobile phones only during emergencies but it has become a fashion among them. Students who are really serious about studies rarely use mobile phones during school,"
she added.A teacher in Children Modern Academy, Vishal Gupta said that many children get cell phones, sometimes when they are younger than 12 years. Cell phone can be very useful during emergencies but teenagers are using it for other purposes. He also said that cell phones in schools are a distraction for students.
Gupta said parents who give mobile phones to their kids are not aware of negative effects of this appliance. These days cell phones have many features and teenagers tend to misuse it.
He also said that in case of emergency students can use phones available in schools rather to bring their personal cell phones.
Student of St Thomas College, Vishal Gupta said that it is good that cell phones are not allowed in the schools because it distracts the kids who then don’t pay attention to the teachers. Another local student Mayank Kala said that mobile phones should be allowed in schools so that parents can be informed without delay in case of emergency.
He also said that cell phones are an easy way to access internet which is very useful these days. "Teachers dont teach properly so with the help of mobile internet we can search for information on any subject on the web,” he added.
A parent Sushil Negi said that cell phones are good for children in case of emergencies. Cell phones can be used to teach and learn in schools as they are less expensive and more portable than laptops. He also said that students can also use their phones to record lectures.
A mother, Namita Rawat said that mobile phone is the basic necessity these days as it is very helpful during emergencies. Mobiles have many negative effects also but it is teacher’s responsibility to ensure that students do not use cell phones when it is not appropriate, she said.