Cell phones at school and in the classroom...

Recently, our school allowed students, ages 10 to 14 to start bringing cell phones to school. Some teachers have actual curricular uses for them in the classroom, but most teachers, that let students bring cell phones to the classroom on a daily basis, allow students to listen to music while they work in the classroom to cut down on chatter while students perform the guided practice or write for assignments. Maybe that is a good idea, but I am not so sure. Is listening to music the magic bullet to keeping students focused, or is it one more avenue to avoid daily social situations that is essential for development in a work environment?

What the resulting outcome is, is an incessant use of cell phones during lunch, recess, and before and after school. I catch more kids sneaking a text to their friends in other classes than any other misuse of a cell phone, which is generally not allowed to be used at all, unless I specifically have asked the previous day for students to bring their devices for use in class for a specific activity.

Maybe once the novelty dies down, students will be more appropriate, but the bigger effect of cell phone usage on campus is less social interaction, isolation, and less interaction with people that are not your friends accessible through your device, whether through texting, Facebook, or other social networks.

Here are some videos with a negative view of cell phone usage, followed by a couple of videos showing positive effects of cell phones in the classroom.

Anti Cell Phones at school Videos:
After I saw this I put down my cell phone... Does this really happen... Yes!
Portlandia... Technology loop trying to keep up with social media...
The Cyber-bullying Virus Does this happen at your school? Gossip at light speed.
Too late to apologize As elementary friendships shift to new social alliances, the cell phone may accelerate the break with old childhood friends with more destructive tools.

Pro Cell Phone at school Videos:
Bring your own device at Carson School, Fairfax, VA... When used as directed, no complaints
Star Trek meets South Park - the How and Why of BYOD
BYOD for Whitehall School - guidelines and requirements
BYOT Rockwell, Texas, 2011

Links:
Can you give up your cell phone for a day? - article