Students using cellphones in class can be distracting for both the teacher and the other students. Kids are not necessarily talking on the phones, but texting, which is a distraction. If students are texting, they cannot be giving their full attention to the teacher and thus do not learn as much as possible. When teachers have to stop class to reprimand a student playing with his cell phone, it takes away time from her lesson.
With the Internet, all types of information is available at anyone's fingertips, even during important tests in class at school. When students have not studied but have access to the Internet, cheating is easy and tempting. Many phones also have calculators that students can use during math.
If you are a teacher that does have a problem with phone usage during class, collect the phones from students at the beginning of class. Set a basket on your desk where students can deposit the phones when the enter and pick them up when they leave. Make sure that each student that does drop off a phone has it turned off so that you will not have to dig through the basket during class to stop it from ringing or vibrating.
Some school districts, such as in New York City, have gone as far as banning cell phones from school. This ban started when cell phones and pagers were a sign of drug activity in the inner city schools, but it is now moving to districts where cheating and distractions are prominent parts of the daily school routine. While some parents want to be able to get in touch with their children at any time of the day, it is not always appropriate. Schools that do ban cell phones can set up some sort of emergency system where parents can find out if their children are all right in the event of an emergency. Ban cell phones from the classroom, but not necessarily from the school grounds. This allows kids to have access to their phones when they need rides after school, but will not be a distraction in class. Have some sort of punishment, such as detention or suspension, set in place for those who disobey the no cell phones in class rule. Cell phones can also be checked into the school office for students that repeatedly break the rules.