Bring in show music, please. This is SquawkPod and I'm CNBC producer Cameron Costa. On today's episode, school is starting and so is the debate over whether students benefit from having their phones in class.Yale lecturer Joanne Litman on one side. When the pocket calculator first came out, they were banned from schools cuz like kids will never ever learn how to do math. So my point being historically every time we have these new technologies there's a lot of fear about them and then ultimately we learn how ...

Arguments for Allowing Cell Phones with Limits - Advocates for allowing cell phones in schools with limits, citing safety concerns and the need to teach responsible and ethical use of technology [3][4] - Some research suggests that taking phones away can increase student anxiety and negatively impact academic performance [6] - Practical uses in the classroom, such as taking pictures of assignments or illustrations, are cited as benefits [5] - Historically, fears surrounding new technologies have often been overcome as tools are integrated into learning [16][17] - Banning phones might widen the education gap, as lower-income students may rely on them for internet access and other resources [17] Arguments Against Allowing Cell Phones - Advocates for a "bell-to-bell" policy, where phones are turned off and inaccessible throughout the school day, to improve student focus [8] - Emergency situations require students to focus on adult instructions and keep cellular networks open for first responders [9][10] - Students with phone access may experience increased loneliness and anxiety, and learn less [10] - Smartphones are primarily used for social reasons and gaming, making it difficult for students to filter out distractions [18] - Foundational skills should be developed before introducing technology, similar to teaching financial literacy before giving a credit card [13][14]