Schools may be going high-tech these days, but this teacher is taking it to a whole new level!
Since the introduction of the first iPhone in 2007, cell phones have made their way into just about every part of daily life. And schools are no exception. A recent study found that 97 percent of 11- to 17-year-olds with phones reported using them in school.
Some people say having phones in class is good for students. Teens can use the devices to take notes, do research, or create podcasts or videos.
But others argue that phones distract students from learning. They say getting notifications and scrolling on phones divides students’ attention. It’s difficult to focus on an algebra problem, for example, if you’re constantly checking texts. As a result, many schools—and even entire states—have banned phones on school grounds.
This cartoon uses exaggeration (overstating or magnifying a problem or idea) to comment on cell phones in schools. Study the cartoon, then answer the questions.
—Laura Anastasia
1. Where is the woman in the cartoon? Where is she going? What details help show that?
2. Why might the cartoonist have chosen to show the man reading a book?
3. How might the cartoonist feel about school cell phone bans? Explain.