Your school principal is considering banning mobile phones in school and has asked students for their views. You have read the views of two students. Text A Hamza, student I love my mobile phone and couldn't give it up. It helps me to feel safe when I'm walking to school because I know I can call my parents if I need them. They are happier to let me go out on my own because they can contact me at any time. When I'm in school, it is easy to use my phone to do research, so I don't have to waste time going to the library or carrying around lots of heavy books. I can also set reminders on my phone for when homework is due, and I have a picture of my timetable as my screensaver, so I am always on time for class. Photography is one of my hobbies and I like to use my phone to take photos and videos while I'm out and about. I can edit these quickly and share them with my friends. I really enjoy being able to look back on these memories. I also think that the fact that my phone is expensive has made me more responsible. I know that my parents won't pay for a new one, so I am always careful not to lose it. I definitely couldn't live without my phone! Text B Rachna, student Although I have a mobile phone, I choose not to take it to school. I don't want to be distracted in class – checking my messages and social media accounts, instead of focusing on the lesson. This distraction isn't just a problem in class; students trip on steps and walk into doors while looking at their phones rather than watching where they are going. Although mobile phones can be useful for schoolwork, they limit creativity when students look for ideas on the internet rather than thinking of their own. It is also difficult for teachers to know when a student has used their phone to help them do the work and this makes it hard for them to know what help students need. Mobile phones are expensive and when students lose them, this causes a lot of stress. Having such expensive items in school encourages envy, which can lead to friendship issues. My biggest concern is that it is easy to become addicted to your mobile phone, which has a negative impact on learning and on relationships with peers. Without mobile phones, students are free to fulfil their academic potential and to build long-lasting friendships – the two most important aspects of school life.