Cell Phones in Class

I believe that cell phones can be a positive or negative device, depending on how you utalize them.
On one hand, they can be very helpful. The students can quickly share information with each other, even if they are not in the same room. (ie. 3 in the classroom, 3 in the library.) It can be a tool that takes pictures, video tapes, records voices, times, calculates, organizes, and so much more! It can be a useful device for students who choose to ultalize it. Cell phones can also help principals stop crime and bullying. A student is more likely to text another, then to tell them in person, that they look bad, their rude, threaten them, etc, etc. If a student says that stuff over text messaging, it is traceable. It will always be in cyberspace, it can always be retrieved and there is proof of what was said, when and the context of it. This can be used for suspensions, detentions, or court (if necessary). A cell phone also forces students to read and write, short forms or not, they are still reading and writing.
Even though students recieve text messages on their phone, that doesn't mean that they will check them. (Most will, but some won't). Although text messaging can be distracting, it can also be a good thing. If the entire class is always texting in say, Ms. Sprietzer's Math Class, then the teacher may want to reconcider their teaching styles. It can be a good indictator as to if the students understand and/or finds the material interesting. Also, if the class is extremely boring, whether the student is texting or is doodling, reading, staring off in space, they are distracted. They are not going to pay attention anyways, so why not use cell phones? There are so many positive aspects to using cell phones, that it outweighs the con of texting. Texting can be disrespecting to the teacher, but if the students aren't texting, their mouthing-back, gossiping, passing notes, ignoring them, etc. Students will always have some form of disrespecting teachers-texting or no texting.
Cell phones are becoming apart of the world, technology is rapidly enhancing, and schools just need to figure out how to embrace cell phones and use them for positive things.
In conclusion, cell phones are a good thing.