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The document discusses the ongoing debate over banning cell phones in schools, highlighting a history of proposed legislative solutions and varying policies across states. It outlines the current status of the controversy, including differing enforcement levels and concerns regarding academic performance and mental health. Key issues include the impact of cell phones on student distraction versus their potential as educational tools.

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7 views2 pages

11

The document discusses the ongoing debate over banning cell phones in schools, highlighting a history of proposed legislative solutions and varying policies across states. It outlines the current status of the controversy, including differing enforcement levels and concerns regarding academic performance and mental health. Key issues include the impact of cell phones on student distraction versus their potential as educational tools.

Uploaded by

shijie an
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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I. RESOLVED: State departments of education should ban cell phones in schools.

(Affirmative
and Negative Resolutions should be different)

II. Background Information

A. History

1. History of proposed legislative solutions to the problem


○ Cell phone bans in schools debated for over 20 years.
○ Early 2000s: initial restrictions due to safety, cheating, distractions.
○ Policies varied widely across states and districts.
○ Bills proposing statewide bans introduced in Michigan and Texas (Panchal &
Zitter, 2024).
○ Brazil implemented nationwide cell phone ban in schools (Soares, 2015).
2. Additional points of historical significance
○ Rise of smartphones and social media increased concerns.
○ Research linked cell phone use to distractions, cyberbullying, anxiety, and
depression.

B. Present Status of Controversy

1. Status Quo
○ Policies currently decided at school level, with varied implementation.
○ Some schools enforce complete bans; others allow restricted usage.
○ Ongoing debates about academic performance, mental health, and technology
use.

C. Definitions and Terms

1. Terms in proposition itself


○ "Cell phones": Smartphones enabling internet access, texting, and calling.
○ "Schools": Public and private educational institutions.
○ "Ban": Total prohibition on cell phone use during school hours.
2. Technical terms of solution proposed
○ Enforcement responsibility: State Departments of Education.
○ Exceptions: Emergencies or medical needs.
○ "Educational technology": Debate over phones as learning tools vs. distractions.

D. Main Issues of the Debate

1. Issue #1: Academic Performance


○ Affirmative: Cell phones distract students, leading to lower grades and decreased
classroom engagement.
○ Negative: Phones enhance learning via educational apps, online research, and
communication.
2. Issue #2: Mental Health
○ Affirmative: Overuse contributes to anxiety, depression, loneliness, and reduces
face-to-face interactions (Panchal & Zitter, 2024).
○ Negative: Banning phones could negatively impact students relying on phones
for mental health resources and essential communication.

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