I read with interest the article in Monday, June 10th’s paper regarding the use of cellphones in schools. This has become an issue in our home. I do recognize the educational benefits of working technology into school. However there are definite drawbacks.
My children attend a school system where most kids do seem to have smart phones. Yet, my children do not have smart phones, and I have no intention of getting them smart phones. I have no interest in spending an additional $30 per month for a data package.
However, electronics are being used in the educational process in their schools. They have been requested to bring smart phones or other similar electronic devices to school for use in the classroom. So my son has brought his iPod Touch and iPad Mini. I believe that this is just asking for trouble. Theft in the schools is prevalent on all levels, and the ability to lose it is possibly even greater among middle school children.
And for those children who have no device at all, it is just a source of embarrassment. If the school wants to make use of these devices in the classroom, the school should be providing them, handing them out for use in the classrooms only and collected at the end of each class period.
Emily Resnik Conn
Woodbridge