For teenagers, their cell phones are their link to the world; they cannot be without them, as schools know only too well. I write about the distraction factor inherent in the phones, which led a Florida teacher to resort to a jammer to force kids to look up and pay attention. Readers also share their views on whether smartphones should be allowed in classrooms. In a guest column, a University of Georgia professor discusses the competitive versus cooperative model of education.

About the Author

Keep Reading

(AJC 2013)

Credit: pskinner@ajc.com

Featured

Inventor Lonnie Johnson stands with his Super Soaker water guns at JTEC Energy on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, in Atlanta. Johnson, a former NASA engineer, is currently working on a new energy technology through his company’s JTEC device that turns thermal heat into usable energy. (Natrice Miller/AJC)