Erin Horst
Published: November 13, 2008

DUBUQUE- We have all had a cell phone go off in a public place. It can be very embarrassing. Some teachers are now saying they should be banned from the classroom.

Loras Sophomore, Kristi Olberding said, “I try not to, but I usually have it on vibrate so it makes some sort of noise, and then I can’t not answer it.”

We use them to talk to family, text friends, take pictures, even listen to music, but no matter how we use them, our cell phones are nearly always with us.

“Yes, sometimes I use my phone in class,” said Loras Sophomore Kati Lundquist.

And that’s when it becomes an issue.

“I didn’t really see it becoming a problem in the classroom until maybe the last four or five years,” said Loras Instrumental Music Professor, John Oelrich.

“Cell phones in the last, I would say five years, have absolutely exploded,” added Hempstead High School Math Teacher, Jason Loeffelholz.

Oelrich has been teaching instrumental music for 11 years now, and cell phones are one of his biggest pet peeves.

“I don’t think it enhances or improves the instructional atmosphere at all, in fact I think it’s very detrimental,” said Oelrich.

Many teachers feel that a phone going off in class distracts not only the student with the phone, but others in the class as well.

“Anytime you have a distraction like that it interrupts the learning process and students don’t get as much as they normally would,” said John.

The biggest concern for Loeffelholz is when students text each other during his class.

“Kids do it everywhere, they’ll do it in class, they’ll do it between classes, before school after school.
If they can text they will text,” said Loeffelholz.

While some students would risk getting caught in class, others just aren’t worried about the consequences.

“I’m too chicken to have it go off in class, so I just turn it on silent, and I don’t touch it,” said Loras Sophomore Sarah Riesburg.

So the question becomes, will they eventually ban cell phones from school property.

“I would be behind it one hundred percent,” said Loeffelholz.

“Students should not be allowed to have cell phones in school,” said Oelrich.

Erin Horst can be reached at Erin.Horst@lctv13.com