2011

CELL PHONE TO CHILDREN, ARE THEY BLESSING OR BLIGHT

KHAIRUL HAFIZD BIN MOHD ASRI KIRKBY INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE 10/3/2011

AIM The aim is to answer the question of whether cell phones should be allowed in school has been hotly debated over the years. Most school administrations regard cell phone use as disruptive and distracting, and have implemented policies that prohibit using them on grounds. There are benefits to giving your kids cell phones for use outside of school but there were also negative effect about cell phones to kids.

REPORT OF CELL PHONE TO CHILDREN, ARE THEY BLESSING OR BLIGHT

There is no doubt that cell phones are the most crucial gadget in our life today. They are very useful for people to keep in contact, shopping, working, and gain information.78% of all teenagers now own a cell phone. This fact is supported from my survey that all Kirkby International College has their own cell phones.Teenagers are more experts when it comes to technology. 47% of teens can text with their eyes closed. They are far more adept than most adults at using their cell phones for many purposes by Cohen, Maya. Cell Phones at School: Should They Be Allowed? , Pearson Education, 2000-2011

It must be seen that the main reason by parents to let their children to use cell phones is because of safety purposes. If they have the phones, it is easier to reach them and even know where they are. It is also beneficial during emergency situations when the child can either call for help or be located in case he or she is gone missing.The problem arises when the cell phones are brought to school. There are the pros and cons about this issue. From my polls, we can see that most of the student from A1 does not have their own cell phone during their childhood. This is because many school districts prohibit their use, even their presence at all times, even during prep periods and lunch. Only 35% student from A1 class have owns a cell phone that was given by their parent. Almost 82% from them bring their phone to school especially during extra co-curricular activities. They maybe encouraged by their parent to bring it to school for security purpose. According to Gordon, Neil(2009) Is the mobile phone a blessing or a curse?, nowadays parent are busy with their work. Sometimes they dont have much time to spend with their child. As we all know if school had extra classes or extra co-curricular activities, student always go home late. So as precaution safety measure parent give their children cell phone to bring to school.In todays world, a cell phone is a necessity for any child old enough to be able to use it in an emergency. It was also the same point of view to my polls. We can conclude that 9 out of 10 student thought that cell phone are very useful for their life. Only few of them said having cell phone is annoying. Kein, Shah (2006) Mobiles in Schools,said actually having cell phone is good in daily life including children. This is because the purpose of cell phone invention is to keep people stay in contact even they are far away each other. For parent, they can be in touch for their children and know about their whereabouts. Their kids also can reach them in the event of an emergency and vice versa. If there was real danger, children can reach the authorities or medical provider. Cell phone can be silenced during class or study periods, and active only in appropriate places. Cell phones create a convenience that was previous unavailable

However based to Alastair,Endersby (2003, United Kingdom )Debatabase Junior Topic there also contra in this situation that keep minority people keep arguing about the uses of cell phone by children. If there were argument there were reasons and point of judgment to this problem. Student often forget to turn off their phones in class, and ringing noises or textmessage alerts disrupt learning. Even if they set in silent mode, cell phones still causedistraction, since text messaging has become a high-tech method of passing notes in school. In the other hand, McKenna, Phil (2008) said that student cell phone network add to spread of rumors and misinformation, which can be harmful during a widespread crisis. Volkow ND, Tomasi D, Wang GJ, et al. Effects of cell phone to children student are able to use cell phone as cheating devices during exams. All of those statements are supported by people who re said having phones is annoying in my survey. Many school districts prohibit their use, even their presence at all times, even during prep periods and lunch. Student handbooks outlaw the possession of a cell phone anywhere on school grounds. Any child with a cell phone can have it confiscated by faculty. I disagree with this policy. And while I am well aware that many students will use their phones indiscriminately, trying to call or text friends during class or risk having their phones go off in the classroom, I cant agree with the policy of no cell phones. It isnt practical. Specific rules need to be put in place so that phones are silenced and in backpacks during class. Having been a teacher in a high school I know it can be done and done successfully. As Director General of Education Datuk Dr. Ahamad Sipon cited the increasing number of students owning cell phones due to cheap service charges and handsets as the reason for lifting the ban. "Basically, the Education Ministry does not want to prevent the usage of cell phones in school. But their use by both teachers and students must be controlled so that the teaching and learning process is not disrupted," he said in a circular. If you ask me if a child should have a cell phone, I will answer yes without any hesitation. I think children today need a cell phone simply for safety sake. There are phone plans and parental restrictions to suit all needs. In todays world, a cell phone is a necessity for any child old enough to be able to use it in an emergency. As a future educator I know that most students would limit their phone use to before and after school, during free periods and for emergency calls. I also know firsthand of two incidents where student use of cell phones was a practical help. When there was a crisis at my school and faculty and students had to exit the building immediately, many students called their parents to let them know they were safe.Cell phones are not only convenient, they are one more way to for you to stay connected with your child and know theyre safe.

ATTACHMENT

Cell Phones By Children : Should They Be Allowed? Survey

1. Do you have cell phone?

2. Did you have cell phone during your childhood and did you bring them to school? Title:I did have cell phones, but I never bring it to school even once Percentage of users that selected this answer: 5.00 Title:I did bring them sometimes especially during co-curricular activities Percentage of users that selected this answer: 40.00 Title:I bring it everyday to school Percentage of users that selected this answer: 0.00 Title:I dont have any cell phone during childhood Percentage of users that selected this answer: 55.00

3. Which of the best describe your feelings about your cell phones?
Title:Its very useful for my daily activities Percentage of users that selected this answer: 75.00 Title:It can be annoying Percentage of users that selected this answer: 10.00 Title:I love it, Its really important to my life Percentage of users that selected this answer: 15.00 Title:I hate having one and find it a no sense Percentage of users that selected this answer: 0.00

4. At what age do you think its OK for a child to get a cell phone ? Title: under 5 years old Percentage of users that selected this answer: 0.00 Title: 5-8 years old Percentage of users that selected this answer: 0.00 Title: 9-12 years old Percentage of users that selected this answer: 20.00 Title: 13-16 years old Percentage of users that selected this answer: 45.00 Title: over 17 Percentage of users that selected this answer: 35.00

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