Sheffield City Schools: 'No cell phones'...

quote:

quote:
Originally posted by smurph:
LOL,I have to agree with ya on that trader.

I am beginning to feel that if parents are THAT fearful of drive-by shootings,rampage shootings,etc that their children HAVE TO HAVE A CELL PHONE for their safety, they should home school. If it is a daily communication of schedules required,maybe they should home school. If family emergencies require the input, reactions,participation of their children WITHOUT calling the school office as their first means, they should home school. Problem solved. If by chance home schooling does not comply with the parents lifestyle,work, etc, then they should consider complying with the SCHOOL regulations on use and possession of cell phones. It really boils down to spoiled parents,not the students at all. Because the majority of students use cell phones as social network(another toy),rather then a useful means of communication of importance. ANY parent can check their childs phone records see JUST HOW MUCH of that costly air time is used for things of importance versus just social networking to friends.


I'll respond to this by saying that my past experiences as an law enforcement officer 'took the blinders off my formerly blissfully naive eyes'....and leave it at that. When you have attended 'active shooter response' training, have seen the carnage from school crime scene videos, etc....THEN talk to me about being 'spoiled'.

BTW...just last week, a student plot to murder fellow classmates on the first day of school was exposed in Ardmore.

and please enlighten me in just how many cases the use of cell phones by students, were of actual benefit to the situation,reporting of incident to police,relaying numbers of victims,locations of victims,shooters, etc? Seriously i would like to know.

quote:

BTW...just last week, a student plot to murder fellow classmates on the first day of school was exposed in Ardmore.

and this one was foiled by A PARENT,,not a student using a cell phone.
http://www.nbc13.com/vtm/news/local/article/alabama_tee...hool_killings/30341/

quote:

Originally posted by smurph:

quote:

quote:
Originally posted by smurph:
LOL,I have to agree with ya on that trader.

I am beginning to feel that if parents are THAT fearful of drive-by shootings,rampage shootings,etc that their children HAVE TO HAVE A CELL PHONE for their safety, they should home school. If it is a daily communication of schedules required,maybe they should home school. If family emergencies require the input, reactions,participation of their children WITHOUT calling the school office as their first means, they should home school. Problem solved. If by chance home schooling does not comply with the parents lifestyle,work, etc, then they should consider complying with the SCHOOL regulations on use and possession of cell phones. It really boils down to spoiled parents,not the students at all. Because the majority of students use cell phones as social network(another toy),rather then a useful means of communication of importance. ANY parent can check their childs phone records see JUST HOW MUCH of that costly air time is used for things of importance versus just social networking to friends.


I'll respond to this by saying that my past experiences as an law enforcement officer 'took the blinders off my formerly blissfully naive eyes'....and leave it at that. When you have attended 'active shooter response' training, have seen the carnage from school crime scene videos, etc....THEN talk to me about being 'spoiled'.

BTW...just last week, a student plot to murder fellow classmates on the first day of school was exposed in Ardmore.

and please enlighten me in just how many cases the use of cell phones by students, were of actual benefit to the situation,reporting of incident to police,relaying numbers of victims,locations of victims,shooters, etc? Seriously i would like to know.

Well the answer to this is probably very low but there is always a chance. Just look back at Columbine High School. Do you think they got out of bed that morning expecting their school to be shot up?

I can't believe all the BS I have been reading, much less the improper grammar of several of the adults with such 'smart children'.
Cell phones should be banned from school period! If the kids are 16 or over, they should leave them in their car. There is no reason for a cell phone to be in classroom with a student. If a child under 16 has a cell phone the parents need their head examined. All they are trying to do is 'keep up with everyone else'. That is what is wrong with the world today.
We survived without cell phones for years and made it fine. If there is an emergency at school...go to the office and use the phone. That worked fine for decades! You need to get in touch with your child during school hours?? Call the office they will get them for you or deliver a message.
Everyone that wants their child to carry a cell phone has their own excuse why 'their child' needs to carry one.
Quit making excuses and let the children be children while they are children! This is just am example why kids seem to grow up to fast and know too much to soon. Using other schools, like Columbine, is just another excuse
to justify why the child needs a phone.
If you want your child to have a cell phone for emergencies, give them one that they can only call 911, then and only then should a child be able to have a cell phone at school!!!

Ditto to what Bamama said. Children should not have cell phones at school, and especially not in the classroom! Cell phones are causing a lot of problems for teachers and interfere with learning. Kids are texting, taking photos and even using them to cheat. Schools should get strict and confiscate phones and make a parent or guardian come pick them up, anything to discourage thier use.

I took cell phones away from two second graders last year thinking they were old cell phones that they were playing with but then I got notes from their parents asking that I give their child's cell phones back to their child. I had put them in my desk like I do all toys that I take away to give back at the end of the year. I then took the cell phones to the principal to deal with because this was a new problem for a second grade teacher: cell phones for second graders! Our high school students have to keep them turned off until after 3:00 if they are caught with them on during the school day the first time is in school suspension (I know my nephew forgot to turn his off and his rang-wrong# not his mother calling-lol) 2nd time I think is out of school suspension. His mother wouldn't let him have one until he joined the band and had to stay after school and she works in one county and attends school in another one.

quote:

Originally posted by ChannelCat:
Ditto to what Bamama said. Children should not have cell phones at school, and especially not in the classroom! Cell phones are causing a lot of problems for teachers and interfere with learning. Kids are texting, taking photos and even using them to cheat. Schools should get strict and confiscate phones and make a parent or guardian come pick them up, anything to discourage thier use.

IF the 'rule' was one that permitted students to leave their cell phones IN THEIR LOCKERS....and punish then for using it DURING SCHOOL HOURS....then I would have NO PROBLEM. I DO have a problem with an ill-thought out rule that impacts MY CHILD'S SAFETY before and after school begins.

quote:

Originally posted by mylife6608:
I'm a Florence native who teaches in Shelby County, TN (Memphis). Our district, which is made up of over 45,000 students, implemented a ban on cell phones this year in middle and high schools. Near the end of the 07-08 school year, a fight at a high school was recorded via cell phone and posted on Youtube. The video, which showed two students fighting with dozens of other students recording the fight on their cell phones, was also broadcast on all the local TV news programs. This incident (and others) prompted the county school district to swiftly react to literally thousands of students possessing phones that could take pictures, record conversations and videos and could be used for texting. The potential liability issues alone are reason enough for the schools to ban cell phones. It's not about the students having a phone to call home if they're sick or need a ride, it's all about district liability.

I hate to be the one to say it, but any school that is worried about WHAT a student is going to record at the school (video or audio) is not the school I want my daughter attending. This should be the last reason to ban phones, our schools should be transparent. Anything that goes on in school should be visible to the entire TAXPAYING community. Any school that is worried about the liability of what is being seen by the public outside its walls needs to have parents visiting EVERY DAY so that they can see whats going on inside the walls.

Cell phones can be set to only make or receive calls from/to certain numbers (Home, 911, grandma, etc) and AT&T now has a program that allows parents to control the times the phones can be used (blocked from 8 to 3, for example.) There has to be some kind of common sense used in these situations. School board members that cannot use a little common sense in their judgement can be VOTED OUT.

Michael

STOI, you stated your child is 11,maybe her young friends have not gotten into the text messaging craze as yet,also you described situations dealing with HOME matters. We are speaking in refrence of having cell phones in their possession in class at school. I see no reason even with things you described that would warrant your child carrying a cell phone into classrooms. What would be wrong with the phone being left at the office to be picked up after class?

also I am sick of hearing from several on here, how a few students ruining the privilage of having cell phones for the others. Well I am disappointed that 19 bombers have created such a nighmare of security regulations at every air terminal across the US now. I am disappointed that because of 2 obvioulsy insane teenagers at Columbine caused my granddaughters school on the east coast to install metal detectors. Point,all it takes is a small number violating anything to create "NEW" rules that disrupt the everyday lives of large numbers.

So STOI with the "NEW" gadgets, are bound to come "NEW" rules,here in 2008

quote:

Originally posted by SO TIRED OF IGNORANCE:


I guess this is how people reacted when they came out with that color television or them microwave ovens. Who needs that new fangled crap??????LOL

The biggest thing I remember people not liking was back in the early seventy's when the car manufacturer's started using plastic in cars. People just hated plastic and what the world was coming to. Oh and don't forget plastic plumbing pipes. That was really a disgrace!
Now what would we do without it?

I agree with STOI on this one. Parents have to make sure there kids are safe. I've driven by schools and practice fields around Florence and seen kids waiting for a ride all alone. It creeped me out so I can imagine how the kid felt. We live in a new time and there is new technology and new threats. If a phone will keep kids safe then give the kids phones. If the kids take dirty pictures with the phones than the parents need to look at what kind of job they are doing raising their kids.

quote:

Originally posted by smurph:
STOI, you stated your child is 11,maybe her young friends have not gotten into the text messaging craze as yet,also you described situations dealing with HOME matters. We are speaking in refrence of having cell phones in their possession in class at school. I see no reason even with things you described that would warrant your child carrying a cell phone into classrooms. What would be wrong with the phone being left at the office to be picked up after class?

also I am sick of hearing from several on here, how a few students ruining the privilage of having cell phones for the others. Well I am disappointed that 19 bombers have created such a nighmare of security regulations at every air terminal across the US now. I am disappointed that because of 2 obvioulsy insane teenagers at Columbine caused my granddaughters school on the east coast to install metal detectors. Point,all it takes is a small number violating anything to create "NEW" rules that disrupt the everyday lives of large numbers.

So STOI with the "NEW" gadgets, are bound to come "NEW" rules,here in 2008

Smurph,

This discussion is about cell phones at school, not just in the classroom. There have been numerous comments about the school systems banning them altogether, not just in the classroom, but on the property during school hours. Numerous schools have told their students not to bring them to school, which prevents students from bringing them in and leaving them in their lockers all day (or checking them in the office). I am sure many schools would prefer that they not be checked into the office everyday because of the sheer number of phones that would be checked in and the liability of keeping up with them, so they are banned completely. So, IMHO, STOI is on topic with her comments about the phones.

Michael

quote:

Originally posted by smurph:
STOI, you stated your child is 11,maybe her young friends have not gotten into the text messaging craze as yet,also you described situations dealing with HOME matters. We are speaking in refrence of having cell phones in their possession in class at school. I see no reason even with things you described that would warrant your child carrying a cell phone into classrooms. What would be wrong with the phone being left at the office to be picked up after class?

also I am sick of hearing from several on here, how a few students ruining the privilage of having cell phones for the others. Well I am disappointed that 19 bombers have created such a nighmare of security regulations at every air terminal across the US now. I am disappointed that because of 2 obvioulsy insane teenagers at Columbine caused my granddaughters school on the east coast to install metal detectors. Point,all it takes is a small number violating anything to create "NEW" rules that disrupt the everyday lives of large numbers.

So STOI with the "NEW" gadgets, are bound to come "NEW" rules,here in 2008

The 19 Bombers you are speaking of did change our lives and threw our Country into a panic...... but do you remember flight 93?..... If not for Cell phones,,, there would have been many loved ones who would NOT have received that last goodbye..... and the authorities would not have been alerted to what was actually happening..... cell phones did that....

Cells played a major role in Columbine too...... 911 works real well on all them......

I dont care how mad you get at some of the ppl saying that cell phones should be allowed,,,, limited but allowed..... when my daughter was diagnosed with Cancer 4 years ago we went through so many ups and downs it would horrify anyone...... and you are darn tooting she got a cell phone during her remission times that she was allowed to go back to school...... so if her Cancer created NEW rules then so be it.... She knows the rules and abides by them... she has no text on her phone..... she turns it off during school..... and only if there is a true emergancy would she turn it on to call me...... This I know because I get the flippin bill every month to know that is true..........

I care not what you say and you care not what I feel.... you havent walked in my shoes so dont speak for me...... please.......

I have much compassion for what you are going thru,there is now and always has been slack in school rules to comply for sick children. Schools are not concentration camps. I raised a child,one that had grand mal seizures. not once did his health become jeopardized by not having a phone in his pocket. There were MANY trips to the school to get him,NUMEROUS trips to the hospital to meet the ambulance with him thru the years.
I still stand with my opnions on this,the healthy child has no reason to have a cell phone in school.

Cell phones for kids are great, as long as they follow the school rules and parents' rules. My 11 and 13 year old kids both have phones. In my family of 5, there are 3 different schools being attended. Sometimes there are times when I'll be late picking them up and they need to know what to do or who to ride home with. Could a school secretary relay the message. Sure, but I like to get the message to them directly. Another great thing I like about the phone is being able to talk to them when they are away with friends or spending the night with someone. If my child is on a trip with a friend to Huntsville to see the Stars play, I can with the touch of a button make sure she is safe. Are cell phones neccessary for youngsters--no, but it sure does make life a lot easier. When my kids first starting asking for them, I told them no way. I finally told them that if they save their money and pay for their own (pay as you go phone) and are responsible enough to keep up with it for 1 yr. then I would add them to my plan. They didn't lose it and didn't abuse the privelage, so when that year was up I added them to my plan. We've had to set some rules and they have followed and it has worked well for our family.

Thank you. You see cell phones aren't bad, if your responsible enough to have one. You can't let other people spoil it for the rest. Ever heard people say, "You can't let a few bad apples spoil it for the rest of the good apples." Well, not to be rude or anything, but most of the folks posting on this forum are of the older age. I was a student myself not to long ago and times have changed since back then. And yeah the office has a phone, but tell me how in the world are you going to get to that phone when the school is in lockdown???

Today's school administrators are 'too busy' insuring teachers 'teach the state tests' to be 'bothered' with simple discipline problems such as a kid with a cell phone. So they do what is easiest: ban them all.

I was talking to my kids last night about this thread, and asking them about cell phone usage at their school. My oldest reminded me of an incident that happened a couple of years ago.

He was in the band, and they had practice scheduled after school. At the beginning of the period, the band director announced that practice had been cancelled due to a called teachers meeting after school.

He went on to say that everyone needed to notify their parents immediately so that alternative plans could be made. After a brief pause, he stated that he was going next door to discuss an issue with another teacher, and would be back in about 5 minutes. At that time if anyone needed to use his office to phone his/her parents, they would be given an opportunity to do so.

When he returned, he did ask the class if anyone needed to use the phone. Not one student in the class of 150ish students raised their hands. He then continued on with class.

So, while he didn't actually SAY get out your phones and call, the implication was there, and the students picked up on it and made their calls. After my son mentioned this, I remembered getting a text message from him that day.

Wonder what an administrator would do in the event that they walked into an entire class of students calling/texting parents?

quote:

Originally posted by beebobear1985:
I was talking to my kids last night about this thread, and asking them about cell phone usage at their school. My oldest reminded me of an incident that happened a couple of years ago.

He was in the band, and they had practice scheduled after school. At the beginning of the period, the band director announced that practice had been cancelled due to a called teachers meeting after school.

He went on to say that everyone needed to notify their parents immediately so that alternative plans could be made. After a brief pause, he stated that he was going next door to discuss an issue with another teacher, and would be back in about 5 minutes. At that time if anyone needed to use his office to phone his/her parents, they would be given an opportunity to do so.

When he returned, he did ask the class if anyone needed to use the phone. Not one student in the class of 150ish students raised their hands. He then continued on with class.

So, while he didn't actually SAY get out your phones and call, the implication was there, and the students picked up on it and made their calls. After my son mentioned this, I remembered getting a text message from him that day.

Wonder what an administrator would do in the event that they walked into an entire class of students calling/texting parents?

Funny thing, I guess like everything else, a rule is a rule, until it does not work for the maker of the rule, then all the sudden it is a recommendation ;o)

Good example of why students should be allowed to have phones at school, although I would have to disagree with them having them in the classroom in this example. The band director could have simply said "You all have 5 minutes to run to your lockers and let your parents know practice is cancelled."

Michael

quote:

He went on to say that everyone needed to notify their parents immediately so that alternative plans could be made. After a brief pause, he stated that he was going next door to discuss an issue with another teacher, and would be back in about 5 minutes. At that time if anyone needed to use his office to phone his/her parents, they would be given an opportunity to do so.

now IF I am reading this correctly the band teacher was giving permission to use HIS OFFICE PHONE?

quote:

Originally posted by smurph:

quote:

and would be back in about 5 minutes. At that time if anyone needed to use his office to phone his/her parents, they would be given an opportunity to do so.

now IF I am reading this correctly the band teacher was giving permission to use HIS OFFICE PHONE?

No, he was disappearing so that they could all get their cell phones out and call. He added the disclaimer that when he returned they would be allowed to use his office phone. That way if anything was said, he had the out that he didn't authorize cell phone use. They could have used his office phone.

okey,,i was not sure

Discretion is a WONDERFUL TOOL...assuming someone has the intelligence to use it. It sounds as if the band director in question was a MASTER.

My young friend who is a freshman at Russellville tells me the policy is to carry the phone in the backpack with the ringer off. There's only a problem if they are not stowed or turned off during class and official events. Apparently it's the same for an MP3 player.

The "turn them off and keep them out of sight" rule works well when they do it. The vast majority didn't, so that's where the new rule comes in

thank you.

quote:

Originally posted by ua1996:
The "turn them off and keep them out of sight" rule works well when they do it. The vast majority didn't, so that's where the new rule comes in

Please...cite the numbers to support your claim. Cell phones were never a problem in my classroom....but then, I roamed around my classroom rather than remaining glued behind my desk.

What classroom???? Where do you teach?

Why? You're the one that 'cited' an apparent problem with cell phones in the classroom. I merely stated that I never had a problem with them in MY classroom.

okay last night i met my sister and her best friend for dinner. The "friend" is a teacher at one of the area high schools. I brought up the cell phone issues. She told me she had no real day to day issues with the phones DURING class,,once she could get the students out of the hallways into the classroom FOR class.She said students mingle in the hallways past classtime to use their phones between classes WAY too long. She said it was never unusual for her to begin her class on time with only 4 or 5 students already seated as they should be. She also said there were far too many bathroom passes" and has followed some of the girls only to find them using their phones. Which she had 2 mothers actually cuss her,and threaten her when she reported to the mothers what was going on.
I pretended to be in favor of kids having cell phones on them just to get her to really get into the cons from a teachers point of view. I told her there are instances of family emergencies,,oh she really blocked me on that one,,seems a young man in her class last year had gotten a call from mom to tell him grandpa had passed away. the young man was obviously upset,left school,BYPASSING checking out thru the office. When he did not join the family in amount of time mom thought necessiary she called the school to ask if he had left. They told her they were about to call her because did not show up for his scheduled class. Mom then was frantic. Turned out the young man had a flat tire, was in the parking lot frantically fixing it,trying not to create a scene and had forgotten to call mom back. Now this very situation she told me about caused me to tell her my true thoughts on the subject,because here was a very typical action of a teenager faced with situation, trying to hurry, but also creating alot of worry and added stress uncalled for. Had the SCHOOL been notified instead of the child directly they would have been prepared to deal with this young man being upset, someone else driven him to meet family,or helped him fix his tire from the get go.The whole situation really needed school officials involved FIRST.
Parents tend to forget its a small number of teachers compared to the number of students. Teachers are EXPECTED to protect,teach and look out for every single child for the entire day of school. Parents should be more concerned with the type of charater teachers have,what sort of teaching methods they use,making sure schools are up to date on teaching material,if schools are implementing updated safety measures to help protect their children. Possession of cell phones should be way down the list of concerns.

The example of students staying out in the hallway after the bell has rung is indicative of an ADMINISTRATIVE problem....NOT a CELL PHONE problem.

well dogsoldier, my post was so long i did leave that issue out,as she told me about the bombardment the principle had over the administration had over punishing the LARGE numbers of kids mingling on their phones. Method used was staying after school,which interferred with so many of those extras(sports,clubs,etc.)also transportation.
You are a teacher share with us what your school would implement. I have referred my sisters friend to these forums and this thread in particular for her to read. i hope she will join in.

I'm still just wondering where you teach.

ua1996,,,when you cute your source, I'll tell you where I taught.

smurph....while it can be a royal PITA, each cell phone infraction should be dealt with on a 'as you catch them' basis.

First offense: warning
Second offense: phone all to parent and 1 day of after-school detention/
Third ofense: Confidcation of cell phone and require parent to pick up.
Each successive offense: 1 day home suspension up to a max of 5 days.

FWIW, students that are considered to be '504' cannot be sent home for more than 10 days TOTAL per calendar year.

Is anyone upset by the no radio in the classroom policy? How about the no hair dryer policy? No? Seems like some things are appropriate in the classroom and some things aren't. I have to vote that cell phones aren't.

Here's someone who agrees with me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hut3VRL5XRE

the method you described is ALMOST to the letter what she described,,,,,parents raised Judas H. over the punishment.

heck I am a changed person ,,I say let em use their phones and DARE anyone try to take it away. The ones that do not have a phone,I think there should be a new government program to furnish them one!

I think students caught using cell phones should be beaten with a belt. That'll learn 'em.

Cute my source??????

heck no marian beat em if they forget to have it with them at school,afterall there might be an emergency.

quote:

Originally posted by ua1996:
Cute my source??????

Bite me, ua.... I had a long night.