Current Event #5: Online Debate
PART ONE:
Read the following situation and follow the directions BELOW.
KEY QUESTION: Should the school board ban cell phones at Saline Middle School?
Situation: There has been multiple problems with cell phone use in classes at Saline Middle School. Students have been texting during classes as well as using the phone in the hallways. Also, students have been getting their cell phones stolen during school hours. The school board is considering banning ALL cell phones in school so that students can focus more on their school work. Their decision is is based on the positive examples that they have seen at other schools. What is your position on the issue?
DIRECTIONS:
1. Read the articles using the links in the BLOGROLL
2. Post your OPINION on the issue along with TWO-THREE REASONS.
3. Your reasons must come from the ARTICLES.
4.Your first sentence should be written like the example except with YOUR position/opinion
Example: I think that the school board SHOULD ban cell phones in school. My reasons for thaking this position are….
You may research this topic and read OTHER articles related to this topic that are not on the BLOGROLL.
GRADING:
On time. Your blog MUST be posted by February 14th.
Your first sentence of your posting MUST be written like the example.
You must have TWO-THREE reasons from the articles.
PART TWO:
RESPONDING/DEBATING: You may post a response to anyone in the class. You may either ask them a question about their ideas or givethem reasons/evidence to contradict their position on the issue. DO NOT ATTACK the person!
I think the school board SHOULD NOT ban cell phones. My reasons for taking this position are as follows: First, kids who have after school activities (such as football or basketball) will need to be able to contact their parents so the kid can get picked up. This way, kids will be able to be safe and out of harms way from any strangers, all because of a call from their cell phone.
Another reason is not text messaging, but as an emergency use. For example, during the September 11 attack, there were tons of school districts in New York City that had a “no cell phone use” policy. Because of that policy, many kids had no cell phones. Well during the attack, many people were rushing to nearby public phones so they can call their family members and tell them they had to get picked up, are leaving early from work, etc. Unfortunately, the kids in the school districts were in jeopardy because they had no one to call. This put many students’ parents in worry.
I know that there are some kids brave enough to take their cell phones to classes. And there are kids who are even braver enough to have their cell phones on during classes. Let me just say that those kids have no common sense. Besides, only a handful of kids do that (I hope). My final statement about cell phones is: that cell phone use is a privilege, and kids who misuse cell phones are the ones that shouldn’t have them period.
I think that the school should not band cell phones. My reasons are that kids who have after school activities such as football, basketball and ect. will need to contact there parents. Also now kids can get home safely because they can call their parents if they miss their bus. If there is a emergency that is happening to the school than the kids can call their parents. I also think that if they ban cell phones kids may try to sneak them into school anyway. The last thing is that cell phones are a privelage, and if kids missuse them they are going to get in alot of trouble.
I think that cell phones should be banned on school grounds because they increase the urge to cheat. For instance if you’re up all night playing a new video game that is out instead of studying; then you should be left to fail on your own not be given the opportunity to cheat via cell phone and get a free ride. If we let this continue then the message we are telling people is if you cheat you get rewarded. That is why we should crack down on cell phones and start telling people that there are no free rides.