Should schools ban cell phones?
significant | retain | devise | effect | inhibit
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Do the Math
Do the Math
Many adults disagree on whether smartphones inhibit teens’ development of important skills. The Pew Research Center devised a poll that asked teens themselves whether smartphones have an effect on their skills development. Among the teens surveyed, significantly more thought smartphones had a positive effect. Seventy percent of teens responded that the benefits of smartphones outweigh the harms.
But many adults still worry about how phones affect teens’ social lives and futures. So, should we take teens’ word for it?
% of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 who say that using smartphones makes it ________ for people their age to do the following:
% of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 who say that using smartphones makes it ________ for people their age to do the following:
Option 1:
Option 1:
The Pew Research Center surveyed approximately 1,500 teens for this survey. How many students of 1,500 said phones made it easier to do well in school?
A. 1035 teens
B. 465 teens
C. 345 teens
D. 675 teens
Option 2:
Option 2:
Based on this data, write a proportion to represent how many students in a school of 500 students are likely to say that smartphones make it harder to learn good social skills. Then, solve.
Discussion Question:
Discussion Question:
Forty-two percent of teens surveyed thought phones make it harder for teens to learn good social skills. Yet only 30 percent of teens surveyed said the harms of phones outweigh the benefits. Does that mean teens don’t value their social skills and friendships? Or is something else just more significant for teens? If teens believe that phones are beneficial, should they be allowed to retain their phones in school?
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