The Use Of Mobile Phones In Shs

As extracted from Wiktionary, a phone is a device for transmitting conversation and other sounds in real time across a distance. The first mobile phone was invented by Martin Cooper, Eric Tigersted and W. Rae Young. However, Martin Cooper, an American engineer who was born on December 26,1928 in Chacago (US) is largely regarded as the father of the cellular phone. The cellular phone which continues to metamorphose has several advantages that can not be overemphasized.

Making calls has been one of the main advantages of using mobile phones. The ability to talk to people at distant places helps to connect loved ones and maintain a bond of unity. Again this further helps to transmit emergency situations that need urgent attention. For example, in the event of a fire outbreak, all that is required is to alert the Fire Service Agency through a phone call. Adding up, when there is an unforseen eventuality at the dormitory especially at night, these students can easily place a phone call to the school authorities for immediate assistance.

Moreover, in this current dispensation where the world is predominantly controlled by information, communication and technology, one has to be consistently making research to be abreast with modern developments. The phone is a tool that helps you to increase knowledge by way of learning and keeps you updated. It is also worth noting that almost every topic there is to be learnt can be found on the internet. Students can take advantage of the several methods and techniques available on the internet to learn any topic that will be beneficial to their academic work.

Furthermore, one of the memories I hold dear is a picture taken with a Japanese biology lecturer during one of our practical sessions as a student. Most mobile phones have the feature of taking pictures. Taking pictures with friends on campus who have come from different backgrounds is a way to unite people and a good sign to maintain peace in the nation at large. In addition to that, students feel a sense of belonging and are deeply attached to the school whenever they see pictures taken on campus. It is easier for such students to look back and assist the school when they assume positions of influence.

However, irrespective of all these advantages, the usage of phones on campus comes with several disadvantages.

Four secondary school ladies were caught scaling the wall. To the amazement of the school’s authorities there was a car parked outside waiting for them. With the help of a police officer, the car was stopped and the students were sent back to school. How did they know the exact time the man came there and where the car was parked? Just with a phone call. The use of phones on campus increases sexual misconduct and aids in prostitution.

Again, it increases theft cases on campus. Some less privileged students feel less of themselves when they see the type of phones their colleague students are using. They go out to steal these phones. Some even form gangs, physically attack others for their phones and end up injuring some.

Moreover, several students are not able to effectively manage their time. They waste their precious time on apps (Social media) which are supposed to help them. At the second cycle level, only few students are able to master the act of effective time management. This affects their academic work.

Last but not least, some information are meant to stay within the various schools yet because of the use of mobile phones, others are able to easily get access to this information which is not good for the reputation of the school and in some cases the integrity of some people become at stake.

Even though, the use of mobile phones has not been officially accepted in the senior high schools, we cannot pretend not to be aware of the fact that several students are using phones on campus. As to whether it should be officially accepted is still a difficult decision to take because these students require lot of coaching and monitoring. The official use of mobile phones on campus still remains a mystery. However, it is possible.

SAMUEL ABOAGYE
[email protected]