Within our classes, hypocritical teachers can often be found scrolling on their cell phones, causing their students to be deprived of the teacher’s full and undivided attention.

Teachers are paid to teach children information they will need in life, whether it’s for college and what they intend to pursue as a career, or just common knowledge they need to know. But some teachers would rather hand out a worksheet and then text at their desk than directly teach their students.

Children need the influence of adults in their life, to set an example and to make an impact on their lives. Teachers can be one of the most significant figures in a child’s life, and a student can’t perceive this connection should the teacher only bring attention to his or her phone.

The opportunities not taken advantage of to positively impact students’ lives is not the only reason why teachers’ cannot be staring at their phone in class. If a teacher is looking at their phone, the students get the disadvantage of not being supervised. When a teacher does not have their full attention on the classroom and what is being done inside the classroom, cheating and sharing of answers will be present. Quizzes and tests will become much easier for the students, as they can all silently compare their answers and find out what is correct and what is not. Grades will increase, but no real knowledge is being passed on from teacher to student.

Teachers can occasionally check their phone, as they are humans living in the 21st century, but if their phone is a distraction to them it can be a real issue. Teachers have papers to grade and children to supervise, and they are getting paid to teach, not to be on their phone.

Teachers always tell their students that they cannot be on their phones, so they will do their work, but teachers need to do the same. Many teachers can be hypocrites by collecting their students’ cell phones, and then will be checking apps on their own. The time that the teachers don’t spend on their cell phones could instead be spent observing their students and walking around to check on each of their students. Being interactive with their students will allow the students to ask questions and express their difficulties, and allow the students to have the most effective education.

If teachers would no longer use their phones excessively, students wouldn’t be intimidated by their teacher’s lack of attention. Once teachers learn to give their students the respect they deserve and not be on their cell phones, the learning environment within school will become easier and more healthy.