Editor’s note: Today’s letters to the editor are from Southwest Junior High students learning about persuasive writing.

To the editor:

Should cell phones be allowed at school? Kids think so, but why don’t teachers? According to my young adult reading teacher cell phones are a distraction. Kids can text in class and start fights by sending inappropriate or disrespectful text messages. Kids can be inappropriate by going onto the internet with their phones and browsing sites. There have been cases of kids taking pictures of tests with their phones and cheating.

On the other hand, there are emergencies where a cell phone could be helpful. So many times there has been someone harassed either walking home or even in front of the building. Also if kids were allowed to have phones at school, then if an intruder came in they would be able to call someone and get safely into a classroom. Safety is the key.

But kids just shouldn’t text in class. How can you stop kids from texting in class? Well if you have about three teachers in a room, one can stand in front of the classroom and the others can stand in the back or side. Or maybe you could just use a classroom aid.

Kids shouldn’t be able to text in class but have their phones in their backpack in case of emergencies.

David Allen,

Southwest Junior High