Cell Phones In Schools

[Cricket]

Should cell phones be allowed in school. Why? Why not?

[Zap]

Good question, Cricket.

I think cell phones should be allowed in school.
They are allowed everywhere else and might be needed in some cases.
I do think, however, that rules of good conduct should be exercised and enforced.
We don't go to a movie theatre and leave the ringer on or yammer away with friends while the movie is playing.
The same should be for school classes. During class, phones should be in silent mode and students/teachers shouldn't be answering their phone or texting.
If they really need to answer a call, they should excuse themselves and then answer.
That's respectful of the rest of the students in the class and the teacher, but still allows for the use of cell phones.

Fact is, that the cell phone could be a life saver.
Lots of kids these days have ailments and some of them are life threatening.
A cell phone could come in handy in those situations.
Parents will also have the ability to stay in touch with their kids.

[Jenie0109]

I totally agree with Zap.

When I was in high school, cellphones are not allowed to be used during classes but there are some exemptions. Example, if a parent want's to check on his/her child because of a health condition or etc. the student must get special permission and it is signed by the parent or guardian.

In my opinion, instead of banning the use of cellphones, teachers and parent should teach their children the value of self-discipline. If this is instilled in children, they will also apply it in different things. I know it's hard but I believe it can happen.

[TeaStorm]

IMO, teachers should be fully entitled the right to ask the students to turn off the phones when have classes, but after classes, students can use the phone.

It help the parents to know what their sons and daughters are doing!

[micoblanco]

Originally Posted by Cricket

Should cell phones be allowed in school. Why? Why not?

For me, cell phones should be allowed in school because it's a very convenience way for parents to know what's the latest happenings on their kids, but one thing we should consider is how and where the students must use it. I mean, having a cell phone in a class can ruin the flow of the discussion especially when the tone is set to the highest volume. Cell phones should be turned off or set into silent mode especially when the student is inside the classroom or library. I prefer to set my phone on a silent mode but set the incoming call into a vibrating mode so that I can easily know that someone is calling me.

[Natural Elements]

I second Zap, and couldn't say it better

[Zap]

I see an opportunity here, for teachers to go over cell phone etiquette with their students in a lesson format.

[Advertise]

I was from the generation of pagers, and let me tell you that if we were caught with one in school they would take it from us and call a parent. School staff considered the pagers to be a distraction. As for a cell phone, because of the convenience they represent today at keeping our kids at bay I believe they should be allowed, HOWEVER, proper discipline should be taught at home. I do not think it is the responsibility of a teacher to teach someone else's child how to be respectful and conscientious with cell phone use. That should be part of the etiquette taught at HOME by the parents.

And I disagree with Zap about kids excusing themselves to answer the phone during class. That is absolutely rude and inconsiderate. Maybe ask for permission to get out of class and go to the rest room but even then, you are leaving that "if it is necessary" phrase way to open for interpretation, meaning kids may find it necessary to answer a call from a boyfriend/girlfriend. I think that parents KNOW and understand that if kids are in school and in class we should respect the time and what they went to school for and not call unless they are on break (we should know their schedule).

As for children with illnesses, I was asthmatic and had numerous allergies, and if my parents wanted to check up on me they called the school nurse (that is what they are there for.) I am not saying kids should not have cell phones, mine do, its just that parameters should be established and reinforced and illnesses should not be used as an excuse to alienate the school staff from that child's health. I still strongly believe that staff should be contacted and alerted when a child is frail and not just call the child's phone.

[Zap]

Originally Posted by Advertise

I was from the generation of pagers, and let me tell you that if we were caught with one in school they would take it from us and call a parent. School staff considered the pagers to be a distraction. As for a cell phone, because of the convenience they represent today at keeping our kids at bay I believe they should be allowed, HOWEVER, proper discipline should be taught at home. I do not think it is the responsibility of a teacher to teach someone else's child how to be respectful and conscientious with cell phone use. That should be part of the etiquette taught at HOME by the parents.

It should be taught at home, by the parents.
But that doesn't exclude the usefulness of having a teacher go over it as well.

Originally Posted by Advertise

As for children with illnesses, I was asthmatic and had numerous allergies, and if my parents wanted to check up on me they called the school nurse (that is what they are there for.) I am not saying kids should not have cell phones, mine do, its just that parameters should be established and reinforced and illnesses should not be used as an excuse to alienate the school staff from that child's health. I still strongly believe that staff should be contacted and alerted when a child is frail and not just call the child's phone.

Actually, I was thinking more about the kid who's having an asthma attack needing to call for help or have one of their friends do it.

[Advertise]

It should be taught at home, by the parents.
But that doesn't exclude the usefulness of having a teacher go over it as well.

I think there are rules that should be established within the school and reinforced in the classroom but I do not believe that a teacher should be held accountable to teach a child the basic fundamentals of courtesy, they should teach math, history, science, english, and so on... PARENTS should teach morals, social etiquette, courtesy and respectfulness and how to OBEY rules...

Actually, I was thinking more about the kid who's having an asthma attack needing to call for help or have one of their friends do it.

Yes, I agree if they are beyond the school compound, then they can take it upon themselves (or a friend) to call for help. Within the school I repeat, it is the responsibility of the staff. When a child is in school whatever happens to that child is the responsibility of the staff, and that is why there is a school nurse. School nurses are always RNs or LPNs, meaning that they are trained to deal with emergencies until an ambulance arrives. If a child is having an asthma attack a nurse's office more often than not has emergency medications like inhalers, nebulizers, etc. These can help stabilize the child until the ambulance arrives and parents are called.

[jamehanna]

No, cell phones should not be allowed in school, imho. They are there to learn, not text and talk and play games. Plus they make great targets for thieves.