Debate of the day 3-4-26

@IncogInterlocutor said ^

@IncogInterlocutor said ^

Yes, they should.
You need access for personal things, like communication or documents, and access of internet.
Keep in mind, whatever it is good or bad, is determined only by user. So any arguments supporting or against any albirtary set of users implying should students be allowed... or should not students be allowed..., should consider that user is the problem, not the device.

wouldn't using a iPad also provide communication, documents, and access of internet?

Yes

well I think students don't need a phone because phones have small screens which are bad for ur eyes, basically can do exactly everything a iPad can do, iPads cost less than phones, most students don't need a phone and not all students get phones

But it is less convinent, sure it is bad for your eyes. But a lot of decisions have bad and good results, you trade convinece, for not being good for your eyes. (Ipad isn't that much better anyways for your eyes)

@Damkiller25 said ^

@IncogInterlocutor said ^

Yes, they should.
You need access for personal things, like communication or documents, and access of internet.
Keep in mind, whatever it is good or bad, is determined only by user. So any arguments supporting or against any albirtary set of users implying should students be allowed... or should not students be allowed..., should consider that user is the problem, not the device.

wouldn't using a iPad also provide communication, documents, and access of internet?

Yes

well I think students don't need a phone because phones have small screens which are bad for ur eyes, basically can do exactly everything a iPad can do, iPads cost less than phones, most students don't need a phone and not all students get phones

But it is less convinent, sure it is bad for your eyes. But a lot of decisions have bad and good results, you trade convinece, for not being good for your eyes. (Ipad isn't that much better anyways for your eyes)

even though it is less convinent while exact comparative percentage data for only loss (excluding damage/theft) specifically between phones and iPads is limited, evidence indicates that smartphones are lost or damaged significantly more frequently than tablets.

also iPads generally have a lower, less severe impact on eye strain compared to iPhones

@IncogInterlocutor said ^

Yes, they should.
You need access for personal things, like communication or documents, and access of internet.
Keep in mind, whatever it is good or bad, is determined only by user. So any arguments supporting or against any albirtary set of users implying should students be allowed... or should not students be allowed..., should consider that user is the problem, not the device.

wouldn't using a iPad also provide communication, documents, and access of internet?

yeah but i feel like bringing an ipad might be too much due to its size. it's harder to use an ipad than a phone because a phone is smaller and easier to use, not to mention that ipads are basically useless without wifi while phones can use mobile data (not sure if apple released a new update or something allowing ipads to use mobile data).

@sAnDrAiSgOod said ^

Yes, they should.
You need access for personal things, like communication or documents, and access of internet.
Keep in mind, whatever it is good or bad, is determined only by user. So any arguments supporting or against any albirtary set of users implying should students be allowed... or should not students be allowed..., should consider that user is the problem, not the device.

wouldn't using a iPad also provide communication, documents, and access of internet?

yeah but i feel like bringing an ipad might be too much due to its size. it's harder to use an ipad than a phone because a phone is smaller and easier to use, not to mention that ipads are basically useless without wifi while phones can use mobile data (not sure if apple released a new update or something allowing ipads to use mobile data).

While a phone is easier to slip into a pocket, it’s terrible for multi-tasking, for example on an iPad, I can use Split View and iPads have had cellular capabilities for years, and as of 2026, most new iPads support 5G, allowing them to use mobile data just like a phone. Because the iPad is larger, it houses a much larger battery, lasting longer under heavy use compared to a phone. Yes, it takes a little more planning to bring an iPad than a phone, but that’s the point. It’s a "destination device" designed for deep, focused work, rather than constant, distracting, on-the-go texting. If I need to work, create, or read comfortably, the iPad wins.

But the question was not is iPad or smartphone better for doing school. I think students can use there smartphones while school to do the task or in the breaks.

I'll bite.

Technology isn't the problem. The way people use technology is. (Yes, I'm using the gun control argument here because there's a certain level of irony in people supporting one but not the other. Are they apples and oranges? Sure, but I just can't help but see the similarity.)

With the amount of American school shootings, it is indeed highly useful to have a device for communication. Yes, teachers have their own phones. But do you think they really have the capability of reaching every family in an emergency? Additionally, banning tech in general tends to lead to prejudice against disabled/nonverbal people who need their devices to communicate (yes, I'm aware most of them don't use phones, but often this gets applied as a blanket rule).

I think the strongest reason though is that a lot of people don't realize how many free periods you can end up with in certain schools depending on your schedule. When people say they don't want phones, they often mean they don't want to see them in classrooms. But the debate topic is schools in general, not classrooms. There is no need to baby teenagers and convince everyone that this inability to focus naturally without being forced to is natural. Fun fact: people tend to be better when you trust them. Most of my school teachers operated off of the policy that if you needed to take a phone call from your parents, use the restroom, or anything else important, all you had to do was wave on your way out so in emergencies they could keep track of who went out. I've gone to this school for six years. Never a single phone related issue.

It's really not that hard to just pull out the phone for passing periods only. Granted, my classroom doesn't have a big enough sample size for me to fully answer this, but I genuinely don't see the point. The sneaky ones that this rule was made for will simply circumvent it by bringing fake/old phones, using alternative devices, etc. while everyone else is penalized for doing absolutely nothing, and in dangerous situations, it can get bad pretty fast without a way to contact your family.