Student handout · Discussion & Debate
Should schools ban smartphones? A ready-to-run debate lesson
Should schools ban smartphones?
Words you will need
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ban | to officially stop something |
| distraction | something that stops you concentrating |
| emergency | a sudden dangerous situation |
| responsibility | something it is your job to do |
| addicted | unable to stop doing something |
Sentence frames
- I think schools should / should not ban phones because ______.
- One problem with banning phones is ______.
- On the other hand, ______.
- I agree with ______, but ______.
- That is a good point, however ______.
Arguments — for the ban
- Phones distract students during class.
- Students pay more attention to each other at break time.
- Cyberbullying is harder when phones are away.
- Students sleep and study better with less screen time.
Arguments — against the ban
- Parents need to reach their children in an emergency.
- Phones are useful for dictionaries, translation and research.
- Students need to learn to control phone use, not just have it removed.
- A ban is hard to enforce fairly.
Your turn
Round 1. My side is: ______________
My best argument: ______________________________________
Round 2 — swap sides. Now argue the opposite.
My best argument for the other side: ____________________
Write one sentence
Schools should / should not ban smartphones because
______________________________________________________