Cell phones in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Perspective (2025)

Should cell phones be allowed in classrooms? If you’re looking to get a good sense of the pros and cons of cell phones in the classrooms, then you’re in the right place.

At the time that I was going through my teacher training, schools in my area were just starting to implement a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) program to start allowing and encouraging students to bring their cell phones to school as a learning tool.

The thought process behind the BYOD program was that cell phones were going to:

• enhance learning
• level the playing field for students of varying needs
• save money
• helpo students become more tech-savvy
• prepare kids for the future

After spending the following 10 years in the classroom with students and their cell phones, I’ve come to the conclusion that cell phones should not be allowed in classrooms.

Although I’ve seen how they can potentially be used as a learning tool, I’ve seen that they do more harm than good, and the good doesn’t outweigh the harm.

Many sources online will show you the pros and cons of allowing cell phones in the classrooms, but my job is to bring you the perspective of a teacher; someone who has seen BYOD first-hand in practice – its “learning tool” potential, as well as its downsides.

I’m going to walk you through:

• the pros and cons of cell phones in classrooms (the learning tool value, as well as how it impedes learning)
• what really happens when schools try to place limitations on cell phones
• the truth about ‘cell phone bans’ in schools
• the reasons why I think we need a different approach to anything we’ve been doing

So, let’s get started – should cell phones be allowed in classrooms?

Pros and Cons of Cell phones in Classrooms: A Learning Tool vs Distraction

Although I’ve come to the conclusion that I think we should ban cell phones from schools, there are two ways to look at it. Here are the pros and the cons of using cellphones in the classroom

The bottom line: There are a few benefits to smartphones in the classroom, but far more downsides than upsides. Ultimately, smartphones in the classroom reduce intrinsic motivation, or the child’s focus or interest in anything outside of the phone. They have a negative impact on student mental health, community building and belonging in the school, and they’re distracting to the student’s learning even when the student isn’t looking at them.

Schools have seen the harm that cell phones in classrooms do, and they’ve tried to place limitations on them.

Where I live in Ontario, the school policy is that:

• cell phones are to be “off and away” during the school day
• students are not to take them out unless directed to do so by a teacher.

We even have signs around the school halls that say “No cellphone zone.” Sounds great, right?

Pro Tip: Ontario is planning to crack down further on cell phone rules in schools, which you can read about here.

In reality, I can tell you from experience that this policy doesn’t really do anything. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen groups of kids walking past those “no cell phone” signs, all while staring at their phones.

Or how many times I’ve seen kids on Snapchat, TikTok or Instagram when they’re supposed to be using it as a ‘learning tool.’

To put it bluntly – we are overwhelmed with behaviour problems in our schools, and we can’t begin to manage the cell phone problem alone.

While cell phone use is out of control, it’s not our most pressing issue and it is often slipping under the radar compared to bigger, more immediate safety-threat issues.

So regardless of what our school policy is on paper, what we state in school newsletters, and verbally remind students and parents of… students know that there isn’t really a lot that we can do (or will do) about their cell phone use.

The bottom line is, any rules made to regulate cell phones in classrooms and in schools comes down to the teachers to police.

And teachers don’t have a lot of say or power when it comes down to it; the students know that.

Here are some truths about why teachers are losing the battle with cell phones in schools:

• Most teachers are afraid of legal repercussions associated with taking a phone away. If it is claimed that something happened to the phone after we took it, then we may be blamed or held liable
• If students put up a fight when you ask them to put their phone away, (which they don’t always, but they often do) then there aren’t really any consequences for the student’s behaviour
• If we call home, it isn’t uncommon for parents to defend their child
• If we get the principal involved; they usually have bigger, more pressing issues to deal with (such as a violent incident in another classroom.)
• Some teachers, especially new teachers, may be afraid to get the principal involved, fearing that it may reflect negatively on their teaching or classroom management

At the end of the day, students know that we don’t have a lot of leverage. There aren’t any real consequences for not following the “rules,” so the cell phone rules get pushed very badly.

I want to add that I have seen good examples of student self-control and regulation with their phones. Many students follow school policy of keeping them ‘off and away.’ I’ve also seen some teachers who have a really good cellphone management plan that seems to be working with the majority of their students. Cellphones are well managed for some students, but the big picture is that cellphones have undermined and cheapened the learning environment for the student body as a whole.

5 Reasons Why Cellphones Shouldn’t Be Allowed in Classrooms

So, should cell phones be allowed in classrooms? You’ve read the pros and cons and my take on what really happens when we try to manage and police the ‘limits’ and ‘rules’ that we have. Here is why I don’t think the battle is worth it

1. The school’s lack of power when cell phone rules aren’t followed

Teachers don’t have enough power or authority to:

• remove cell phones
• discipline students who are using the phones inappropriately, or
• remove students from class who are being disrespectful with their phones (or to the teacher, when they ask them to put away their phones.)

Having cellphones in the classroom without having the power to do any of the above creates a pretty toxic and distracted learning environment where phones are out more than they should be (and being used inappropriately.)

2. Cellphones are addictive

Smart phones tend to be full of addictive apps with algorithms that are designed to keep them coming back and to keep them on as long as possible.

The book The Anxious Generation by Johnathan Haidt illustrates how smartphones permanently rewire children’s brains.

It’s been proven by many experts and studies that mental health is negatively affected by constant access to the apps on a smartphone.

Knowing this, I believe it’s irresponsible to allow (and especially to encourage) children and adolescents to bring these devices and carry them in their pocket all day at school.

3. They do more harm than good

This is really what it comes down to. Yes, there are some potential learning tool benefits to cell phone – but the distraction, disruption and problems that cell phones in classrooms are causing aren’t worth the small benefit they provide.

Especially when there are other, non-addictive learning tools, that can provide the same benefit.

4. Experts recommend that cell phones not be in the classroom

Social psychologist Johnathan Haidt specifically recommends in his book that cell phones not be in classrooms (and instead, kept in school lockers all day.)

5. It doesn’t promote equity

Equity is a huge buzzword in education right now, which makes me surprised that we aren’t being stricter about cell phones.

Cell phones squash equity in several ways:

• Not all students necessarily have a phone. And even if they do, some have a very simple, or cheap one. Cell phones add another element to the ‘have’ and ‘have nots.’
• Students whose parents have decided not to send them with a phone for whatever reason, feel left out of all their peers who have them
• There are always shinier, newer phones with exciting new features coming out. Some students have the new top of the line phones, while others have a flip phone or no phone at all.

I realize that the inequity issue can be applied to many student belongings, such as clothing and backpacks. But in the push to strive for equity, including cancelling Halloween costumes, why are cell phones not included in this?

6. Cell phones keep students from learning the most important lesson of all

School isn’t just about the academics. It’s about community building, relationships, socialization and emotional regulation.

Kids need free play, and they need time to connect with peers face to face, doing something non-screen related. When cell phones are brought to school, kids are very tempted to scroll on them at lunches and recess breaks; instead of interacting with their peers.

Cell phone addiction robs them of these precious last few years of childhood, which should be spent learning these other important skills that humans are built for.

Further Reading to Support a Ban on Cell Phones in the Classroom

While this article comes across as an opinion piece, I am using more than just my opinion. I’m using a combination of observations in the classroom as a teacher, as well as reading that I’ve done about cell phones. Don’t just take my word for it -hear it from the experts too.

• The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness – Dr. Johnathan Haidt, social psychologist
  
• Glow Kids: How Screen Addiction Is Hijacking Our Kids – and How to Break the Trance – Dr. Nicholas Kardaras, psychologist
  
• Smartphone Bans, Student Outcomes and Mental Health – Sara Abrahamsson, Postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Fertility and Health (CeFH) at Norwegian Institute of Public Health
  
• iGen: Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy–and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood–and What That Means for the Rest of Us -Dr. Jean Twenge, psychologist

Cellphones in Classrooms FAQ

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about the issue of cell phones in classrooms and in schools

Why should cell phones be allowed at schools?

Cellphones shouldn’t be allowed in schools, because of how they impede engagement in learning, socialization, emotional regulation, managing of emotions. Even if schools attempt to place ‘bans’ or regulations around cell phone use, it’s very hard for teachers to police and manage without backup support from their admin or parents.

Why should mobile phones be banned in schools?

Mobile phones should be banned in schools because several experts have published books and articles saying that mobile phones are more harmful than helpful in our school environments, and have a negative impact on student engagement and learning.

Are cell phones banned in schools in Ontario?

Yes, cell phones are officially banned in schools in Ontario; however, this ban doesn’t mean what people think it means. It is nearly impossible for teachers and school staff to police, so many students end up on their phones regardless. Without the proper support from parents, a school ban on cell phones will not work.

Final Thoughts on Cellphones in Schools

So, what do you think now – should cell phones be allowed in classrooms? You’ve now heard a teacher’s honest and uncensored perspective on the pros and cons of cell phones in classrooms and have hopefully come to the conclusion, as I have, that we should protect the well-being and education of students by putting a real ban on cell phones in the classroom.

I’m not sure how this would work in practice. Like I’ve said, the issue of cell phones in schools is so out of our control, that I don’t know how we can even begin to do something about it without major change. School systems and society need a huge overhaul, and complete support and commitment from parents to make this happen.

I highly recommend checking out some of the further readings that I have recommended in this article, as they are written by experts who understand the child’s developing brain much better than I do.

From an educator’s perspective, cell phones are more of a distraction than a useful tool, and I don’t feel like they’ve enhanced the learning experience in my classroom enough that the harm they’re doing is even close to being ‘worth it.’