Opinion
Opinion

Atlanta Forward: Education

Before New York City lifted its ban on cell phones in schools this year, students paid to store them at mobile storage trucks parked near their schools.

Credit: Associated Press

Credit: Associated Press

Before New York City lifted its ban on cell phones in schools this year, students paid to store them at mobile storage trucks parked near their schools.
By Maureen Downey
June 14, 2015

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.

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About the Author

Maureen Downey has written editorials and opinion pieces about local, state and federal education policy since the 1990s.

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