The main reason people disagree with bringing phones to school is because they can be a major

distraction to students, leading to decreased focus during lessons, potential cheating on exams,
and disruption to the learning environment due to social media notifications and app usage;
essentially impacting academic performance negatively.

Distraction: Phones can easily draw students' attention away from the teacher and lesson content
with notifications, games, and social media access. Cheating: Students can easily access
information on their phones during tests, facilitating cheating. Cyberbullying: Phones can be used
to engage in cyberbullying behavior through text messages or social media. Inappropriate
content: Students may access inappropriate content while in class. Privacy concerns:
Unauthorized photo taking or recording could violate privacy. Negative impact on learning:
Constant phone usage can hinder concentration and critical thinking skills.

Here’s the full exchange with both the opposing side’s answers and your rebuttals:

1. Q: How can schools ensure that students won’t get distracted by their phones during class,
even with strict rules in place?

• Opposing side: Schools can implement clear policies, such as requiring phones to be kept
in bags during lessons. Teachers can also integrate phone use into learning activities,
making them tools for education rather than distractions.
• Rebuttal: Even with rules, students will still be tempted to check their phones. Unlike
books or notebooks, phones are designed to grab attention with notifications, making
distractions harder to control.

2. Q: If phones are allowed, how can teachers guarantee that students won’t secretly cheat during
exams?

• Opposing side: Phones can be collected before exams, just like other prohibited materials.
Schools can also use strict monitoring, seating arrangements, and digital tools to detect
cheating.
• Rebuttal: Collecting phones is time-consuming and not foolproof—students can hide
extra devices or use smartwatches. Without phones, there’s one less risk of cheating.

3. Q: How can schools prevent students from cyberbullying others during school hours if they
have access to their phones?

• Opposing side: Cyberbullying can happen outside school too. Instead of banning phones,
schools should focus on digital citizenship education, monitoring, and reporting systems
to discourage bullying.
 • Rebuttal: But allowing phones in school makes cyberbullying easier to happen in real-
time, affecting students immediately. Banning phones during school hours reduces this
risk.

4. Q: If students can use their phones for emergency situations, how can schools ensure they
won’t misuse this privilege to text friends or play games instead?

• Opposing side: Responsible phone use should be taught. Schools can have designated
times or areas where phones can be used for personal reasons while still enforcing
restrictions during lessons.
• Rebuttal: Students are more likely to ignore these rules, and teachers shouldn’t have to
waste class time policing phone use. It’s easier to just keep them out of school.

5. Q: How can teachers fairly enforce phone usage rules when some students might secretly use
their phones, while others follow the rules?

• Opposing side: The same way they enforce other school rules—through discipline policies
and consequences for misuse. Teachers can also use phone lockers or storage pouches if
necessary.
• Rebuttal: Unlike dress codes or behavior rules, phones provide constant temptation.
Enforcing phone bans is much easier than constantly monitoring who’s using them
correctly.

6. Q: How can schools stop students from secretly recording teachers or classmates and posting
them online without permission?

• Opposing side: Schools should establish strict policies against unauthorized recording,
with serious consequences for violations. Educating students about privacy and ethics can
also reduce such incidents.
• Rebuttal: Even with rules, students can still secretly record others, causing potential
privacy violations. Without phones in school, this problem wouldn’t exist in the first place.

7. Q: If schools allow phones for “educational purposes,” how can they make sure students aren’t
just using them to scroll through social media?

• Opposing side: Schools can use monitoring software, restrict Wi-Fi access to educational
sites, and train teachers to supervise usage effectively.
• Rebuttal: Many students have mobile data, making Wi-Fi restrictions useless. Plus,
monitoring software can’t track everything students do on their personal devices.
8. Q: If students claim they need phones for learning, why do schools already provide computers,
tablets, and other resources for research?

• Opposing side: Not all schools have enough computers for every student, and personal
phones can be a practical alternative. Phones also provide quick access to information and
learning apps.
• Rebuttal: Schools should focus on improving computer access instead of relying on
students’ personal devices, which can cause inequality since not everyone can afford a
good phone.

9. Q: If bringing phones is a “right,” does that mean students can also bring other personal devices
like gaming consoles? Where should the line be drawn?

• Opposing side: Phones are multipurpose tools for communication, safety, and education,
unlike gaming consoles. The line is drawn based on necessity and practicality.
• Rebuttal: But students still use them mainly for non-educational purposes. If phones are
allowed just because they “can” be used for learning, then gaming consoles with
educational apps should be allowed too.

10. Q: How can schools handle the increase in phone-related theft, loss, and damage if every
student is allowed to bring a phone?

• Opposing side: Schools can implement locker systems, encourage personal responsibility,
and educate students on securing their belongings, just like they do with other valuables.
• Rebuttal: But schools already struggle with lost and stolen items. Allowing phones only
increases these problems, putting more stress on students and teachers.