It should be changed. I'm all for communication devices in School. I believe their uses should be allowed with restrictions however. I think it's poor to hamper communication from a Students Parents.
For the most part my school tolerates them. The only problem they have is if a cell phone or beeper goes off during class time. In my school people walk around the halls on their phones all the time and people send text messages to them all the time too.
I'm with groverat on this. Cell phones are for emergencies and use in business. What does a 14 year old need to get a phone call about in the middle of school or between classes? If he/she has friends in the school he/she can go up and talk to them in person at their locker.
There are PLENTY of potential emergencies that would cause the lines of a school to be overloaded. No one is saying that Students should be allowed to receive calls in the Classroom but stripping their right to communicate is excessive. In this scenario it's easy to look at the glass as half empty but I prefer to look at it as Technology that makes our lives a bit better.
Cell phones were banned in my highschool. Beepers were allowed but had to be in "silent mode" or turned off during the school day.
When September 11 happened and thousands of parents were calling and students wanted to call parants the school administration realized that cell phones should be permitted in case of emergency.
We are now allowed to have a cell phone as long as it is not brought to class (left in locker) and is off.
It amazes me how many people have cell phones. nearly everyone does. very sad IMO
<strong>I'm with groverat on this. Cell phones are for emergencies and use in business. What does a 14 year old need to get a phone call about in the middle of school or between classes? If he/she has friends in the school he/she can go up and talk to them in person at their locker.</strong><hr></blockquote>
For emergencies. I remember on Sept. 11th everyone was calling family and making sure everyone was ok. And outside of school, having a cell phone is great for when you're out and your parents need you or you need to meet a friend somwhere and stuff like that.
[quote]but stripping their right to communicate is excessive.<hr></blockquote>
Right to communicate? What the hell is that?
As far as I recall you aren't really allowed some of your basic, outlined rights when you're in school, much less these mythical ones.
[quote]I remember on Sept. 11th everyone was calling family and making sure everyone was ok.<hr></blockquote>
When something like that happens in your area, everyone should be sent home. Students shouldn't just whip out their cell phone during class to call mommy if something traumatic happens.
"Why isn't Suzy here?"
"She's in the hall talking to her mom, Bobby just broke up with her."
Right to communicate.... <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
I graduated high school two years ago, but even then plenty of people had cell phones. Hell, even I had kept mine with me. However, if you were caught using it or it rang aloud in class, you were up for in-school suspension. Harsh? You betcha, but I totally agree with the policy. I kept my phone of "vibrate" in my bookbag and had caller ID so I wouldn't have to worry about missing a call and not knowing who it was.
Students hsould be allowed to bring a cell phone to school, but only with parental permission and a signed waiver stating that the school cannot be held liable for any loss, damage, etc; and that that the student will follow all guidelines (below).
Use should be permitted during lunch, in the hallways between classes, and of course, before and after school. However, in-class use should be strictly prohibited.
If a student is caught using a cell phone during class, or has not ended the conversation after the bell rings, there should be diciplinary action:
-First offense: Warning (accidents happen, and a student shouldn't be punished too hard if it's the first time)
-Second offense: Detention and possible loss of privelege for a period of time (this is at the principla's discression)
-Third Offense, suspension, and loss of right to use a cell phone forever
What the hell would you need to be using your cell phone for between classes in the hallway? To call your friend at the other end of the hall to watch out for the hot blonde coming his way?
Ban them. If you want to make a call badly enough, go outside and do it - you can hang out with the smokers.
my school prohibits YOYOs, bring one and get a detention, bring CD player and get 2 detentions, bring cell phone, pda, etc. and get 3 detentions and lose it for the rest of the year
o and the stupid porn blocker software from st. bernard sw doesn't let me use the google image search, and ask jeeves
[ 03-26-2002: Message edited by: I like Macs ]</p>
I can see why teachers don't want cell phones going off in class, but banning them from school grounds is rediculous. It is a lot more convenient arranging a time to be picked up, stuff arranged, getting a message to the student that they have a dentist appt, etc with a cell phone. I'd say 40-50% of the people in my class have cell phones (not me though), and while it does look kind of stupid, it really is a convenience. When my friends have to reach their parents or get a message, they don't have to walk all over campus looking for a working pay phone, beg for 35 cents, etc. I've missed a ton of my parents messages simply because I don't check in at the office every twenty minutes to see if anyone might have called me. What they do is post messages outside the office window, which is at the top of a five story building which nobody goes to the top of if they can avoid it.
I do have a PDA (Palm 5, had it for two years now), and it is great to have. I write down assignments, notes, etc in it and would be completely lost without it. Also, it's much easier for me to reach in my pocket when I want to write down a quick note, while other people have giant overstuffed day planners and agendas stuffed in their backpack.
What's so bad about a 14 year old having a cell phone anyways? Do you find it somehow offensive?
It's not a matter of need, it's a matter of convenience. Just like a car isn't needed for college, but plenty of students use one anyways because they find it more convenient.
I like my school because they don't have a ton of stupid nitpicky rules. Cell phones are fine, and while a teacher will probably get annoyed (or furious, depending on the teacher) if a cell phone goes off in class, you won't get it taken away from you like a first grader. At my old school anything popular was immediately banned on the grounds of it being a "distraction", like large pencils (no joke!), yoyos, pogs, laser pointers, etc. Admittedly, you'd wonder why some things are brought to school, but what should the school care if a kid plays with a yoyo during recess? Jeez.
[quote]What's so bad about a 14 year old having a cell phone anyways? Do you find it somehow offensive?<hr></blockquote>
A 14-year-old with a cell phone is indicative of how rich and spoiled this society is. Kids whine about having to settle for a car that is 5-6 years old, at 16 they drive them while yapping about bullshit on a cell phone.
I'm just 20 years old, it's not like I'm an old man or anything. I was a teenager less than a year ago.
It made me sick when I was 15 to hear kids gripe about the "crappy Toyota" (a '92 model in '97) their parents were giving them and it makes me sick now to see so much money wasted on the idiots that are teenagers.
[edit]
Teenagers are obnoxious and dangerous enough on the road. Giving them a cell phone and a car is like giving them a beer and the keys.
EmAn:
[quote]I think it's just because when they were that age they didn't have them.<hr></blockquote>
Stunning insight, are you going to be a psychology major in college?
I hate it when people blast music at 2 a.m., it must be because my speakers suck.
[quote]A 14-year-old with a cell phone is indicative of how rich and spoiled this society is. Kids whine about having to settle for a car that is 5-6 years old, at 16 they drive them while yapping about bullshit on a cell phone. <hr></blockquote>
You're absolutely right about the car thing, but with the cell phones... I first got my cell when I was 14 and I'm not some rich, snobby kid... I'm just average. Cell phones really are good to have when you're out with your friends and in school if you need to make arangements with either friends or parents. I really don't see what the big deal is.
Stunning insight, are you going to be a psychology major in college?
I hate it when people blast music at 2 a.m., it must be because my speakers suck.
<hr></blockquote>
All I was saying is that from what you've said previously, you have no idea what a teenager needs a cell phone for and I think it's because when you were that age you didn't have them so you don't know how important they actually are.
[quote]You're absolutely right about the car thing, but with the cell phones... I first got my cell when I was 14 and I'm not some rich, snobby kid... I'm just average. Cell phones really are good to have when you're out with your friends and in school if you need to make arangements with either friends or parents. I really don't see what the big deal is.<hr></blockquote>
Good to have... fun to use... really super keen... you're missing the point.
They're not free, your parents are paying a monthly bill so you can annoy people in public.
The big deal is this:
They disrupt class. They disrupt social situations. They are as/more dangerous as drinking behind the wheel.
It's not a "big deal" in that I'm going to come over to your house and hide your cell phone, but it's a "big deal" in that it's amazingly annoying to everyone that isn't the one being called or talking on the phone. Not that I would expect anything else out of the generation that made Britney Spears a superstar.
At 15 I was listening to Kurt Cobain sing "Rape Me", at 15 your folks were listening to N'Sync sing "Bye, Bye, Bye".
[quote]All I was saying is that from what you've said previously, you have no idea what a teenager needs a cell phone for and I think it's because when you were that age you didn't have them so you don't know how important they actually are.
<hr></blockquote>
That's the entire point, young teens don't need a $150 appliance that costs ~$30+/mth to maintain whose only purpose is image and sparse communication.
They are not important. What in God's name are young teens doing now that I couldn't do 4 years ago besides carrying around a cell phone to look cool?
Unless you're driving places (and might need roadside assistance) or are running some kind of business, what the hell does a cell phone provide?
This kind of argument might work on Mom & Dad, but I'm onto you, sparky.
Comments
I see 12 year olds with cell phones now, no friggin' exaggeration.
No cell phones in schools, period. If there's an emergency, call the school office and they'll get you and vice versa.
This is pathetic.
Sept 11
Columbine
Earthquakes?
There are PLENTY of potential emergencies that would cause the lines of a school to be overloaded. No one is saying that Students should be allowed to receive calls in the Classroom but stripping their right to communicate is excessive. In this scenario it's easy to look at the glass as half empty but I prefer to look at it as Technology that makes our lives a bit better.
When September 11 happened and thousands of parents were calling and students wanted to call parants the school administration realized that cell phones should be permitted in case of emergency.
We are now allowed to have a cell phone as long as it is not brought to class (left in locker) and is off.
It amazes me how many people have cell phones. nearly everyone does. very sad IMO
<strong>I'm with groverat on this. Cell phones are for emergencies and use in business. What does a 14 year old need to get a phone call about in the middle of school or between classes? If he/she has friends in the school he/she can go up and talk to them in person at their locker.</strong><hr></blockquote>
For emergencies. I remember on Sept. 11th everyone was calling family and making sure everyone was ok. And outside of school, having a cell phone is great for when you're out and your parents need you or you need to meet a friend somwhere and stuff like that.
Right to communicate? What the hell is that?
As far as I recall you aren't really allowed some of your basic, outlined rights when you're in school, much less these mythical ones.
[quote]I remember on Sept. 11th everyone was calling family and making sure everyone was ok.<hr></blockquote>
When something like that happens in your area, everyone should be sent home. Students shouldn't just whip out their cell phone during class to call mommy if something traumatic happens.
"Why isn't Suzy here?"
"She's in the hall talking to her mom, Bobby just broke up with her."
Right to communicate.... <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
I graduated high school two years ago, but even then plenty of people had cell phones. Hell, even I had kept mine with me. However, if you were caught using it or it rang aloud in class, you were up for in-school suspension. Harsh? You betcha, but I totally agree with the policy. I kept my phone of "vibrate" in my bookbag and had caller ID so I wouldn't have to worry about missing a call and not knowing who it was.
Students hsould be allowed to bring a cell phone to school, but only with parental permission and a signed waiver stating that the school cannot be held liable for any loss, damage, etc; and that that the student will follow all guidelines (below).
Use should be permitted during lunch, in the hallways between classes, and of course, before and after school. However, in-class use should be strictly prohibited.
If a student is caught using a cell phone during class, or has not ended the conversation after the bell rings, there should be diciplinary action:
-First offense: Warning (accidents happen, and a student shouldn't be punished too hard if it's the first time)
-Second offense: Detention and possible loss of privelege for a period of time (this is at the principla's discression)
-Third Offense, suspension, and loss of right to use a cell phone forever
Do these sound reasonable?
Ban them. If you want to make a call badly enough, go outside and do it - you can hang out with the smokers.
o and the stupid porn blocker software from st. bernard sw doesn't let me use the google image search, and ask jeeves
[ 03-26-2002: Message edited by: I like Macs ]</p>
Before and after calls only (or in case of emergency), absolutely no calls in the hall between classes, that would make so many kids late for class...
I do have a PDA (Palm 5, had it for two years now), and it is great to have. I write down assignments, notes, etc in it and would be completely lost without it. Also, it's much easier for me to reach in my pocket when I want to write down a quick note, while other people have giant overstuffed day planners and agendas stuffed in their backpack.
What's so bad about a 14 year old having a cell phone anyways? Do you find it somehow offensive?
It's not a matter of need, it's a matter of convenience. Just like a car isn't needed for college, but plenty of students use one anyways because they find it more convenient.
I like my school because they don't have a ton of stupid nitpicky rules. Cell phones are fine, and while a teacher will probably get annoyed (or furious, depending on the teacher) if a cell phone goes off in class, you won't get it taken away from you like a first grader. At my old school anything popular was immediately banned on the grounds of it being a "distraction", like large pencils (no joke!), yoyos, pogs, laser pointers, etc. Admittedly, you'd wonder why some things are brought to school, but what should the school care if a kid plays with a yoyo during recess? Jeez.
[ 03-26-2002: Message edited by: radar1503 ]</p>
<strong>
What's so bad about a 14 year old having a cell phone anyways? Do you find it somehow offensive?
</strong><hr></blockquote>
I think it's just because when they were that age they didn't have them.
[quote]What's so bad about a 14 year old having a cell phone anyways? Do you find it somehow offensive?<hr></blockquote>
A 14-year-old with a cell phone is indicative of how rich and spoiled this society is. Kids whine about having to settle for a car that is 5-6 years old, at 16 they drive them while yapping about bullshit on a cell phone.
I'm just 20 years old, it's not like I'm an old man or anything. I was a teenager less than a year ago.
It made me sick when I was 15 to hear kids gripe about the "crappy Toyota" (a '92 model in '97) their parents were giving them and it makes me sick now to see so much money wasted on the idiots that are teenagers.
[edit]
Teenagers are obnoxious and dangerous enough on the road. Giving them a cell phone and a car is like giving them a beer and the keys.
EmAn:
[quote]I think it's just because when they were that age they didn't have them.<hr></blockquote>
Stunning insight, are you going to be a psychology major in college?
I hate it when people blast music at 2 a.m., it must be because my speakers suck.
[ 03-26-2002: Message edited by: groverat ]</p>
You're absolutely right about the car thing, but with the cell phones... I first got my cell when I was 14 and I'm not some rich, snobby kid... I'm just average. Cell phones really are good to have when you're out with your friends and in school if you need to make arangements with either friends or parents. I really don't see what the big deal is.
[QB]
Stunning insight, are you going to be a psychology major in college?
I hate it when people blast music at 2 a.m., it must be because my speakers suck.
<hr></blockquote>
All I was saying is that from what you've said previously, you have no idea what a teenager needs a cell phone for and I think it's because when you were that age you didn't have them so you don't know how important they actually are.
it was fine outside on the quad or whatnot, and in the lounges, but not in the academic areas. The dining hall was frowned upon, as well.
Good to have... fun to use... really super keen... you're missing the point.
They're not free, your parents are paying a monthly bill so you can annoy people in public.
The big deal is this:
They disrupt class. They disrupt social situations. They are as/more dangerous as drinking behind the wheel.
It's not a "big deal" in that I'm going to come over to your house and hide your cell phone, but it's a "big deal" in that it's amazingly annoying to everyone that isn't the one being called or talking on the phone. Not that I would expect anything else out of the generation that made Britney Spears a superstar.
At 15 I was listening to Kurt Cobain sing "Rape Me", at 15 your folks were listening to N'Sync sing "Bye, Bye, Bye".
[quote]All I was saying is that from what you've said previously, you have no idea what a teenager needs a cell phone for and I think it's because when you were that age you didn't have them so you don't know how important they actually are.
<hr></blockquote>
That's the entire point, young teens don't need a $150 appliance that costs ~$30+/mth to maintain whose only purpose is image and sparse communication.
They are not important. What in God's name are young teens doing now that I couldn't do 4 years ago besides carrying around a cell phone to look cool?
Unless you're driving places (and might need roadside assistance) or are running some kind of business, what the hell does a cell phone provide?
This kind of argument might work on Mom & Dad, but I'm onto you, sparky.