Cell phone ban vote scheduled

While cell phones do cause an issue with a smalll number of students, I've seen more teachers than students using them... in classes and hallways. If such a policy gets enacted, it should cover anyone within school grounds, as phones are available for everyones use! Too bad they don't use the same policy for teachers on their computers too...those are musused as much as the phones are.

Children are children and teachers are adults. There certainly is a policy for reporting teachers acting inappropriately. Use it. But comparing student cell phone use to teacher cell phone use is idiotic. Putting children on a level with adults in terms of conduct in the schools is wrong on many levels. Keep in mind that adult teachers need to do many adult activities, such as setting Dr's appointments, calling on financial issues, checking on their children, etc. Why should they be put on a level with students?

HA HA

Bravo! About time. There isn't any reason a student should have an electronic device in school, period. Except maybe a calculator.

Its too bad it had to made 'offical policy'. Common sense seems to be lacking in people these days.

Now, if we can get our state legislature to ban hand held cell use while driving.

Jim,
Both of my kids have laptops (paperless environment) all projects and almost all school work is submitted to teachers over internet access. They both regularly communicate with teachers via e-mail. No more missing papers!! They seem to do better organizing their work.
I have on-line access to all graded projects and know all due dates so I can make sure they are working on them and I can also check to see if the work was submitted. I guess Big mother watching them. In the beginning I had to be checking all the time now they are getting much better at keeping up.
I'm really happy so far, the program is very demanding the research expected is more in debt.
I believe they will be much better prepared for college and the real world.
The rules are clear and strict 3 strikes and you are out of the program. My oldest never has his cell phone on!! My youngest is easier to reach. It is expected during the school day not to have phones on.
It isn't for everybody but my kids are doing really well.

There's also an issue of safety. At schools around the country, police haven't been able to communicate with one another because of all the outgoing cell phone calls jamming the frequencies.

I believe Dr. Montepare needs to source this quote for this to be even slightly believable.

As anyone with a scanner knows, police don't use the same frequencies as cell phones.

Also, I find it hard to believe that as many as a few dozen high school students using their equipment simultaneously would "jam" frequencies to the point where it becomes a public safety issue.

This is a compelling enough decision without having to make up patently silly evidentiary support. You can do better, people.

Voice of Reason wrote:

Children are children and teachers are adults. There certainly is a policy for reporting teachers acting inappropriately. Use it. But comparing student cell phone use to teacher cell phone use is idiotic. Putting children on a level with adults in terms of conduct in the schools is wrong on many levels. Keep in mind that adult teachers need to do many adult activities, such as setting Dr's appointments, calling on financial issues, checking on their children, etc. Why should they be put on a level with students?

They should be put on the same level with students because there is no reason for a teacher to be using a cell phone in class or in the hallways. Cell phone use for everyone should be used after school hours only. They should be left in lockers or left home. If a student needs to talk with a parent or a parent needs to speak with a student, there are telephones they can use in the main office. The same goes for teachers. MP3 players, iPod's, etc. should not be allowed in school at all.

Just an opinion wrote:

<quoted text>
They should be put on the same level with students because there is no reason for a teacher to be using a cell phone in class or in the hallways. Cell phone use for everyone should be used after school hours only. They should be left in lockers or left home. If a student needs to talk with a parent or a parent needs to speak with a student, there are telephones they can use in the main office. The same goes for teachers. MP3 players, iPod's, etc. should not be allowed in school at all.

I agree with you completely. Cell phones and other items should not be used unless it is an emergency. In fact, this one time I was walking into Brayton school (this was in mid-May), and I was walking past the little playground in back. I was actually going to pick up one of my kids there, and as I was walking by, one of the pre-k teachers there, Ms. Dzeirga (I think that's how it's spelled) was out with her class at recess, except she wasn't paying attention to her class, she was ON HER CELL PHONE! So comforting knowing that my kid, who was in her class last year, wasn't even paid attention to. How many times was she on her cell phone while kids were throwing things, pushing, etc?? Teachers should NOT be on their phones while they are supposed to be watching their class!

witnessed wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree with you completely. Cell phones and other items should not be used unless it is an emergency. In fact, this one time I was walking into Brayton school (this was in mid-May), and I was walking past the little playground in back. I was actually going to pick up one of my kids there, and as I was walking by, one of the pre-k teachers there, Ms. Dzeirga (I think that's how it's spelled) was out with her class at recess, except she wasn't paying attention to her class, she was ON HER CELL PHONE! So comforting knowing that my kid, who was in her class last year, wasn't even paid attention to. How many times was she on her cell phone while kids were throwing things, pushing, etc?? Teachers should NOT be on their phones while they are supposed to be watching their class!

Amen!

So just because one time a teacher was on a cell phone you want to ban them for teachers? The appropriate thing to have done was complain to the principal or other administration. Do you think parents should have the same rules as children? Sometimes adults have a legitimate need to use a phone.

Been There wrote:

So just because one time a teacher was on a cell phone you want to ban them for teachers? The appropriate thing to have done was complain to the principal or other administration. Do you think parents should have the same rules as children? Sometimes adults have a legitimate need to use a phone.

I understand where you are coming from, the appropriate thing would have been to complain about it. I don't think adults and children should have the same rules but should follow the same guidelines of the school rules. What does that show the students when a teacher is on his/her cell phone in a hallway or classrooom? I think it is very inappropriate.

I should have noted that the "technology" program I mentioned is part of our public school system. Students must abide to the rules to remain in the program. So far teachers have been great models for the kids teaching them the proper/appropriate usage of technology. I think all principals and teachers have an obligation to provide the least distractive environment possible for learning. Use of common sense is important.

While I don't agree with students using their cell phones during school hours, I DO encourage my children to carry their cell phones on them at all times. If, God forbid, there were a Columbine-type incident here I'd want them to be able to contact 911 to let them know what is going on and to be able to contact me to let them know they are safe. But I'd never disagree with my child serving a punishment for using their phone during school hours inappropriately.

During morning announcements a reminder could be made to turn off your phones (kind of like the airlines do). I feel better knowing my kids have phones with them.

This town is almost like living in A communist country. Are they going to ask for a chins after 3rd time?foster care?Lock up? Jesus the schools around here really need to take a better look at other things that might help better it then just kids with phones.

I am at an age that I did not have a cell phone, ipod or any other electronic device in school. I know most of us didn't and we survived. Just what did we do before cell phones, make plans. If parents talked to their kids in the morning, or the night before and made plans then there should be no reason the elementary kids to have phones AT ALL in school. It also causes a problem with the ones that have and the ones that can't afford to have. There is enough presure in school without that added.

fly on the wall wrote:

I am at an age that I did not have a cell phone, ipod or any other electronic device in school. I know most of us didn't and we survived. Just what did we do before cell phones, make plans. If parents talked to their kids in the morning, or the night before and made plans then there should be no reason the elementary kids to have phones AT ALL in school. It also causes a problem with the ones that have and the ones that can't afford to have. There is enough presure in school without that added.

Amen. We as a society have become too dependent on cell phones, and for no good purpose. Send the kids to school and pre-arrange pick-up time, etc. If the kids really have to speak to a parent, the school office has a phone!

I think cell phones in school are a problem. Even if kids aren't using them at inappropriate times, they are calling their parents and each other over every little thing. It will certainly impede their growth process. If I had a cell phone in elementary school and called my mother every time someone hurt my feelings, I would never have learned how to fend for myself. Part of growing up is handling things ON YOUR OWN. Yes, I discussed things with my parents each night, but I had to learn how to deal with life a little bit each day on my own. That's how we learn and grow as people.

Voice of Reason wrote:

Children are children and teachers are adults. There certainly is a policy for reporting teachers acting inappropriately. Use it. But comparing student cell phone use to teacher cell phone use is idiotic. Putting children on a level with adults in terms of conduct in the schools is wrong on many levels. Keep in mind that adult teachers need to do many adult activities, such as setting Dr's appointments, calling on financial issues, checking on their children, etc. Why should they be put on a level with students?

What??? Why should teachers be allowed to use cell phones during school hours? They should have the same rules of conduct that their students do...or are we on a "do as I say, not as I do" basis?
Both have access to normal phones, so BOTH should have their cell phone use curtailed during school hours. How can a teacher who either sits in class, or walks down the hallway, while using a phone...expect his students to put theirs away? Rules are rules, regardless of the age of the user! I can't tell you how many times teachers stopped class because they got a phone call! It's called being a positive "role model"!

To "another reader" I bet your kids are brats.