Teenagers and the dilemma of cell-phone use in school

By Sr. Lydia M. Okang’a

According to a Common-Sense Media study, 97% of teenagers use their phones during the school day. In a technologically transformed world, this statistic resonates with many. However, a pressing question emerges: how much cell phone use should parents allow their teenagers in school?
Picture this: it’s 9 am on a Saturday morning, and 35 teenagers from a prestigious schools are gathered for leadership training in a renowned hospitality centre in Nairobi. Some have notebooks and pens, but almost all have their mobile phones or tablets on their tables. Surprisingly, when asked to surrender their gadgets to their teacher before the session begins, the students hesitate, grudgingly complying when the facilitator warns, ‘‘those who will not give their gadgets will have them taken away for the whole day.’’
This scenario is one that many parents and teachers grapple with when dealing with the Gen-z. The concentration of these teenagers is easily swayed as they are constantly tempted to engage with their gadgets, whether it is playing games, chatting with friends or creating content. Consequently, they detach themselves from reality and immerse in their digital spaces.

Parenting, Education and the social media dilemma

As parents, we always aspire to provide the best for our children, seeking not only good education but also instilling good morals. In the pursuit of allowing our children to stay connected in this digitally transformed world, we permit them to bring their cell phones to school. However, it is crucial to pause and ask: how much freedom is too much for our children? While it’s essential to grant teenagers autonomy in using cell phones, the question arises about whether they should carry and use them during class time.
We often witness working professionals in workshops succumbing to distractions by their gadgets when a facilitator is moderating. Imagine a parent, perhaps already struggling with concentration, becoming engrossed in their mobile phones. The attention span of a young person is lower than that of a mature individual, raising concerns about how much a teenager can concentrate during a lesson when equipped with a device that offers entertainment, especially when boredom strikes.
It’s time to learn moderation in our approach to our children’s cell phone use. While allowing them to carry phones to school, there is potential in having teachers keep the phones and only return them when it’s time to go home or in case of emergencies that require parental attention.

Finding the Middle Ground

Freedom comes with responsibilities, and choices have consequences. As we grapple with the challenge of regulating our teens’ cell phone use, it is crucial to strike a balance between freedom and responsibility. While encouraging teenagers to embrace technology, it’s imperative to establish clear boundaries, define acceptable sites in the absence of parents, guardians, or teachers, and provide explicit guidelines that empower them to use their cell phones responsibly – at the right time and when truly necessary.