cellphones in school

Opposition

Hello, ladies and gentlemen and Mr. Speaker. I am the leader of opposition and we, the opposition is strongly against allowing students to use cell phones in school. Before I go into our teams arguments and rebuttals, we found some faults in the definition that the government provided. If students gain access to mobile phones, they will not use their phones just for educational purposes. They will definitely use phones for services such as Facebook and Kakao Talk games. So we believe that the motion should be interpreted as allowing students to have access to all cell phone functions including SNS, games and calculator during school hours. First let me rebut the points that the prime minister mentioned. The prime minister answered to our POI about the possibility of limited regulation possible after allowing phones by installing blocking programs. However, the government should be aware that since those phones are not school property, they have no right to so such a thing. Also, students can delete the software installed leading to no positive outcome from this. Now I’ll present our points. I, the prime minister will present how bullying can become a bigger problem with cell phones in school. Also, I will explain how this action can lower focus of the students. Finally, I will present the alternative to allowing cell phones in school. And now I’ll go into my points. Nowadays, bullying often happens in cyberspace. With the smart phones, students can easily access internet and continue bullying a person in school. When phone wasn’t around, the person who is getting picked on just didn’t have to meet the bully but now, they couldn’t because the bully can follow you everywhere with internet access. Also, another problem related to bullying can be made from allowing mobile phones. If a student doesn’t have a phone, or has a low quality phone, they can be bullied just because of that. Some people who are not able to afford nice phones can get pushed around and this is against what education should be; to be fair for everyone. Bullying is not the only problem. Students will lose focus with their phones around. Let me present an example. When a student has a phone near them, there is no exception that the person will touch it and use it. This goes same for the class environment. Students cannot ignore the eagerness to use their phones in class and this would definitely lower the concentration. If the concentration lower, it is definite that the grades will fall. Are allowing phones still a good thing? Is it? I can provide a better alternative. Schools can lend tablet PCs to students. Students will have access to school wifi and the wifi will be blocked for any social networking or gaming sites. This idea is now impossible. Some school in my country is doing this program and is having success. I believe allowing phones have far too many cons than its positive aspects and that is why I strongly believe that granting the use of phone in school is a bad idea.