Do Kids Really Need Cell Phones In School? (Take Our Poll)
- Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:00pm by
Mike Opelka
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Cell phones are literally everywhere. And there is no denying that these magical devices have made it much easier to access information and connect with people. However, some believe that cell phones and smart phones do not belong in every part of our lives. Churches, theaters and many different businesses ask patrons to voluntarily turn off their phones. Some facilities have gone so far as to install signal blocking devices to prevent cell phones from working.
But what about cell phones in schools? Should kids be allowed to carry and use cell phones in the classroom? There are arguments both for and against.
On the positive side: Parents claim that they have a right/need to reach their children in case of an emergency.
Against: Distracted students, cheating and privacy issues
The current policy in New York City’s public school system prohibits students to bring cell phones into schools. This has sparked considerable debate. The policy has also inspired a cottage industry that holds and charges phones for students while they are in class.
NYC high school students line up to store their phones before class. Photo credit: Florescu
NYC’s controversial Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been a vocal critic of allowing kids access to cell phones and smart phones in the classroom for years. This week, Bloomberg came up with a new reason to prevent students from bringing phones into schools. Porn.
That’s right: Bloomberg is worried that kids in school will use their smartphones as “smut phones” and view pornography. Oddly, based on Bloomberg’s statement about porn potential, he appears to be more concerned about the city’s liability than he is about the students:
“You have a big liability with pornography. The city would get sued right away.”
Many writers who have covered this story seem to be confused as to how New York City might face liability if a student uses their cell phone to transmit pornography during school hours. The answer is a simple, three-word Latin phrase: “In loco parentis.” Meaning, while a students is in the care of the school system, the school can and should act as a parent would. Considering that the role and goal of a school is to educate all of the students, if the actions of one student prevents the others from learning, the school has an obligation to act.
Where do you stand on the topic? Take our Blaze poll and add a question of your own:
Cell Phones In Schools
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Comments (154)
Meyvn
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 2:07pmNo. They don’t need them period. Nor does anyone IMHO.
Report Post »TRUTHandFREEDOM
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 2:27pmThe phones should be turned off during class. They should be allowed during lunch and after the final bell.
We supply a tracfone with $20 of minutes. If the phone is lost, it’s not as big a deal as if some kids take or find it and are able to run up your phone bill as with a regular cell phone.
In our situation, we do not use the school bus. Grandma handles the pick up and I am at my parents place for the pick up a half hour later.
In the event that health, traffic, an accident or any other issue arises, the tracfone provides a way for communication with me, just in case the school door is locked and no one’s visible inside.
See the potential problem and establish a solution. That’s what I did here.
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 2:40pmOn the positive side: Parents claim that they have a right/need to reach their children in case of an emergency.
Way back when I was in school, if an emergency happened the parents called the school and someone came to get us. Easy enough. Kids do NOT need cell phones. Far too many distractions today and truly not necessary. We have a generation of spoiled brats.
Report Post »TRUTHandFREEDOM
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 3:00pmA Tracfone is a great tool to teach responsibility (Turning it off when appropriate, budgeting minutes, taking care of the phone, charging it, not leaving it anywhere or forgetting to carry it etc.).
Report Post »turkey13
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 4:09pmSince everyone has a cell phone to not have one people will know you are poor. This is why the Federal government is buying cell phones for SSI and Medicade recepitants. One of my cousins bought her 8 year old girl one because all her friends have one. No big deal to me and the wife – sometimes we go into town and forget to turn it on. When we get home it is turned off and left in the car. I tell the Dr’s office office this and they still leave messages on my cell that I find a week after the appointment.
Report Post »Snidely
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 4:50pmWhen my daughter was in sports (before she could drive), we had to pick her up after practice. She called us on a pay phone near the locker rooms to let us know practice was over. However, they removed the phone because “everyone” had a cell phone, and “no one” used the pay phone. (Except for my daughter, obviously.) That was when my daughter joined the ranks of “everybody” and we got her a cell phone so she could call us.
Report Post »Ken
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 4:54pmNHWINTER: Agreed!!!
Report Post »unrealistic
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 5:22pmI have a problem with taking the cell phones, in that, teachers doing REALLY dumb stuff.. we wouldnt know about it unless a student was smart enough to pull out his phone and film it. Take the phone away and that is gone. video doesnt lie.
I am going to steer this in another dirrection. Lets say a guy has a gun at school and starts shooting. having 20 kids call 911 to report it can give better details than all the kids running away .. to find a phone?
until the schools arent run by irresponsible progressive unions, let the kids have their phones. this is another wah wah story
Report Post »wmgill
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 5:50pmThere is a phone in the office. If parents need to call for an emergency thay can call the office. If its that important mabe it should be taken care of in person and not the phone. Kids dont need cell phones. Cell phones did not exist when I was growing up. Our hhome phone was a party line we shader with 3 other families. That all there was. we go by just fine.
Report Post »Fla Del
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 6:03pmMy grandson went to a high school that did not allow any kind of electronics on the school grounds. The rules are. First offense-The phone,etc, is taken away and held for three days and then given back with a warning. Second offense-The phone is taken away, held for a month, the parents are called in for consultation. Third offense-The phone is taken away and sold. The money is used to pay for school supplies and other needed items.
Report Post »All schools should adopt something like this. My grandson went to school for four years, graduated with high honors and did not use a cell phone. He actually survived without one.
A lot of kids would die (according to them) without one. Not sure if the distraction of a cell phone has anything to do with lower grade averages or not. But it sure is something that should be look at.
mils
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 6:24pmIF WE CANNOT keep them out of the schools…
Report Post »….:)..Then..schools need jammers♥♥..and the phones would be useless..
If mom and dad or your drug dealer need you…CALL THE OFFICE..AND SPEAK WITH THE ADMIN
turkey13
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 7:36pmBefore I retired the Company I worked for had a policy of no talking on it while driving Co. car. If you were on phone while driving and had an accident you were gone. Cut phone off while eating lunch and in Company meetings. Since our school here in S. Oklahoma has a o tollerence I might have to check into that truck parked by the school chargin$1.00 to charge and keep the phones untill after school. This is the 2nd year and JR and High School grades avg. have been up.
Report Post »Bayoublazer
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 7:41pmI think the kids today need to have access to their phones. Have you witnessed teachers getting away with the abuse they give kids? Yes, because kids have cell phones to record the criminal behavior of teachers. Some of the things they do or say would not be believed if it were not recorded.
Report Post »mannaphoto
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 9:35pmKids not having cell phones I can understand. However that bit about “Nor does anyone…”? You obviously don’t work in the modern tech industry, do you. Emergency services (Advanced 911, etc,…) have also found them to be a useful life saving tools – some people wouldn’t be alive without them.
Report Post »acidovorax
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 10:51pmMeyvn, you have the right to your opinion and I and everyone else have a right to decide if we want a cell phone. That’s the beauty of freedom, we are free to voluntarily obtain goods and services that we desire to provide some satisfaction for a want.
If the schools wish to make some policy banning cell phones from the premises, that is their perogative.
Report Post »Wolf
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 11:49pm@ Truth and Freedom… righhhhtttt… and obviously, there are very few responsible children, which is the reason for this survey, story, and Bloomingidiot’s really stoopud idea.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 6:23amCell phones are just another status symbol. Kids are cruel. You get made fun of if you buy your shoes at Walmart, you get fun of if you don’t have a phone, or have a cheap one. I know people on government assistance with better phones than me. I think it should be like kids wearing school uniforms…it puts everyone on a level playing field. No phones at school. When I was walking my son to elementary school, there was a set of parents who met their 4th grader at the door with his cell phone, because they weren’t allowed. Really? in the 4th grade?
Report Post »SREGN
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 8:14amThey absolutely need them to expose the horrific acts of some teachers who are drunk with power over innocent children. They are our eyes and ears into the classroom. They are the only way students have to expose the indoctrination and despotism of those teachers who, protected by the unions, would seek to impose their agenda on the helpless.
Report Post »CABERNETQHS
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 10:05amIt’s part of our culture now. Teachers should not confiscate something I entrusted with my child. We are all busy and need to reach our children. They should be turned off during class. Parents should be teaching kids responsiblity and what’s appropriate use of their phones. As always there needs to be consequences…parents be parents and take the phone if they are misused…NOT the Nanny state’s job!
Report Post »cerlav
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 3:33pmCell phones are just another tool that can be abused like a hammer. Used properly it’s no big deal but if your hitting yourself in the face with it…..thank you Darwin.
I’m a single parent with two student athletes who travel to games, tourneys, etc. If they need to go to study group after or anything that changes during the day, it’s nice to be able to stay in contact. My son’s school makes the kids turn their phones in to the teacher at the start of every day. My daughter’s school makes them be responsible (imagine that, yes they don’t go to public school).
Stupid legislation always starts with a stupid question. For example, should kids have a cell phone at school? I can see the idiots in the California assembly circling their wagons already.
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 4:38pmLet them have them, if they are caught in class give them 3 days of in school suspension.
Report Post »scarebear83
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 5:13pmYa know, for all those who say they need a cell phone to catch their teachers doing awful things then
Report Post »A) your child does not need to be in public school
B) Witnesses don’t mean anything?
C) They have these neat inventions you can pick up at wal-mart for like $20 called pocket cams. Put it in your child’s backpack.
Pacific
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 2:06pmSince pay phones are passee, it becomes difficult to communicate with your child. E.g., if you have to arrange pick ups and drops offs because of school activities. I agree that during classroom hours the phones should not be used, but if this cannot be done, there has to be a way for parents/caretakers to contact and communicate with their child.
Report Post »mensa141
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 2:15pmThat be called the school office.
Report Post »FSM_47
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 3:25pmnever had any problem before cell phones. Too many ‘problems’ aren’t really problems.
Report Post »bba1950
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 4:44pmHow about the rational way..Just call the school office and have them contact the student…That worked for years…
Report Post »acidovorax
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 11:11pmBBA, why is that the rational way and texting or calling one’s child directly irrational?
Report Post »BOUGHT YOUR SILO YET?
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:03amPacific- I agree with you. A few months back my daughter (a senior) called me from her cell phone while in class. The school had gone into lockdown as a student was seen on campus with a gun. Albeit you feel completely helpless- there is not a darn thing you can do. I was so grateful that I could talk to her every few minutes and get an update. It was a very long 45 minutes. Presently, we have 3 sex offenders (one, a high level offender) within the three blocks of our house and our elementary-age kid’s school. This is the reason I insist on them having a cell phone. But- my kids also know that they are not allowed to use it while in class- it has to be turned off. They break that rule then they are punished. So far we have not had any issues. Never had a teacher take their phones. It is not the schools responsibility in the least. Parents need to teach their kids about phone use and hold their feet to the fire if they break the rules.
Report Post »magadog
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 7:03amEver walked behind these kids and heard their conversations? You won’t hear “Mom, Latin club is running late… can you pick me up at…”
Rather “Uh-Uh…fa real? He say dat? Wha she say? Fa real?
One very good solution? Homeschool.
Report Post »Dde13
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 2:06pmOf course not. How does having a cell phone better ones education? I was a campus supervisor and cell phones caused more fights and drug dealings. These phones have cameras, give a fifteen year a camera and they will find a way to use in a inappropriate way. Trust me I’ve seen it…..NOT GOOD!!!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 5:34pmTeachers having meltdowns or inappropriate teaching (you will be arrested if you question Obama!) school shootings .. walking or waiting at bus stops and the crazies on our streets .. kids NEED a cell phone .. they just don’t need to be texting and talking to their friends on it .. get a pre-paid phone (like TracFone) and let the kid use it only to contact parents or emergencies. They use up the minutes you WILL know.
Report Post »JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 2:06pmLet them have there phones. I would rather have them texting than being brain washed by the Progressive teachers. After all, stupid is stupid.
Report Post »sprouter.q
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:59pmI think schools should install blocking devices! When I drop my kid off in the morning almost every mom is yapping on their phone in the car rider line! What do possibly have to say at 6:30 in the morning! Good lord! A lot of the moms are worse than their kids! They try to dress like them too. It is actually pure comedy!
Report Post »OlefromMN
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 2:10pmMy kids are at a Catholic school and I am amazed at the attire of some of the moms dropping off in the AM. I have had many a sinful thought to say the least. But as far as the signal blocker goes I would beg to differ. Our school has a no electronics policy for the students, but if the teachers or the rebellious student has one in their possession if ever (God forbid) something really did go bad such as Columbine, I want them to be able to communicate with authorities.
Report Post »Quagmir
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 2:12pmJamming signals isnt cheap for the mass signla band you woul dhave to cover to hit all cell phone signals. It also doesnt just magically stop at the campus border. Homes and any business nearbye woul dbe effected from the jamming as well. This is not a fix and may not even be legal for a public area(school, park or a courtroom) to block bought and paid for bandwidth from the FCC(public again).
Report Post »bba1950
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 4:43pmi agree—-
Report Post »GoodStuff
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:56pmWhat did kids ever do before cell phones? They must’ve be incapacitated.
NO cell phones in school!
Report Post »Ella
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 2:44pmI agree with you. If a child has a problem they tell the teacher and go to the office and call their parents from the office under adult supervision. I know first hand. I am a teacher. That worked for the last 70 or so years just fine. Also these kids aren’t carrying plain cell phones like I am. They have I Phones with internet and text messaging. I’m sure the temptation to use the interent and text message during class is irrisitable.
Report Post »BOUGHT YOUR SILO YET?
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:07amI disagree- it is rare that anyone ever answers the phone at my daughter’s highschool. If I have to get a hold of her, I either text her (as I know she keeps it off until she is on lunch) or I have to drive to the school. I am not kidding! No one ever answers. You have to leave a message and someone calls back several hours, days later.
Report Post »cassandra
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:51pmkids need to learn how to spell not TEXT , here’s a concept if they need to research something look it up in a book or computor in the library so they can learn how to read too
Report Post »DoomsdayProphet
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:57pmcomputer* and kids need to learn their place in society. It is not on a mantle to behold. It is on the receiving end of life’s lessons. Kids should not have cell phones. You know the reason society is on a steady and consistent decline is because no one says NO to their children anymore.
Report Post »cmsgreek
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 5:03pmnice spelling
Report Post »cookcountypatriot
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:50pmwhat do the stupid teachers say about this?,,,,im sure they have nothing to say…because they could care less..so called teachers are only there because they have to be to get that bloated un deserved pension…..thats it…kids being taught at school…oxymoron
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 2:43pmNo, the stupid teachers hate and fear the cell phones because the kids can use them as cameras to capture evidence if they are abusive, or use their authority to promote their own opinions on issues that should be open to free debate, or spread misinformation because they are too ignorant and arrogant to critically examine the reliability of everything they think the know about the subjects they teach.
Report Post »tomloy
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:48pmKids shouldn’t have cellphones at all! Let them have them when they are an adult!
Report Post »sbmmomma
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:46pmMy son’s high school allows them during school, but can be taken by teacher if caught in class using them. This is only high school in county that allows them – but this school also relaxed the dress code because it took too much resource time to write up 1/2 the kids every day to not have on a belt or shirt untucked, etc. Sounds to me like they cave-in to bad behavior instead of stopping it.
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:45pmYes . 1. For the use to record what goes on in some of these liberal teachers class rooms. Without them the teachers will continue to deny whats happening.
Report Post »2. The kids need them to protect themselves from the teachers.
BlazeGlory
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 3:52pmYeah. The student can zap the teacher with one of those light saber apps.
Report Post »Shasta
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:43pmGive them a pager (remember those?) and enough change to make a collect call.
Report Post »OlefromMN
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:55pmBetter yet, if they want a cell phone it must be one of equal size and weight of the old “brick”. Tote that thing around for a day or two and the novelty wears away. Plus no other features like internet and camera, just an analog screen with numbers. 07734
Report Post »rickc34
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:40pmOne more thing signal blockers in the school buildings.
Report Post »rickc34
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:38pmI think kids should have acess to emergency services or for their parents to contact them or vica versa but because of the potential to cheat or watch porn or text friends during class kids are cheting themselves and wasting a teachers time just look at test scores. Either leave the phones in plain site turned off on their desk or surrender to the teacher when entering class . They can check messages between classes.
Report Post »BOUGHT YOUR SILO YET?
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:19amJust wondering where the teacher is while all the kids have their iphones whipped out and surfing porn? Think back to your days in school, would you be likely to do such a thing? NO! Because the teacher was watching ALL the time. Plus, kids are different today and its partly the teacher’s fault- telling them that they are smarter than their parents etc. If kids really start to believe that, then what is the need for listening to them? Obeying them? Some (and I stress the word “some”) teachers are getting what they deserve with an unrully classroom.
Report Post »chnswstr
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:36pmNo and absolutely NOT. children should not have cell phones in school. It is a toy and distraction from learning. I’m in the school and see students walking down the hallways with their face in the keyboard…not interacting with other students or watching where they are going. Good thing there aren’t any fountains to fall into.
Besides the easy access to cheating, another issue is the camera feature. Last week 4 students from a MN school were in trouble for passing around a photo taken with a cell phone in the lockerroom.
Cell phones are an unnecessary toy during the school day.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:34pmIt is an Emergency,I Cant find my rolling papers!
Report Post »Come on.If it is an emergency you should call the school and have them get your child,or you should show up at the school and get your child.What did they do before everyone had a cell phone? Pass notes?:
gpawhorns
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:33pmwe survied over the last 50 years without them in school, they are a distraction to the kids and others. parents can contact the school if there is an emergency.!
Report Post »dmforman
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 2:22pmParents have forgotten what an emergency is.
Report Post »jungle J
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:29pmif they carry phones the should be allowed to carry switch blades and pepper spray…only the sane should be allowed to vote and have children and drive cars and work inresturants and and and….especially teach…..
Report Post »RamonPreston
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:28pmSo much easier to text your friend the answers to the test you just took and he is going to take next period. You don’t have to write the answers on your arm anymore.
Report Post »BlazeGlory
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:26pmI think a great majority of students such as those who harassed the bus monitor should be in cells with no phone.
Report Post »Small World
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:24pmYes because when some crazy nut starts killing people they can call for help.
Report Post »trinklefinder
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:23pmSomehow I managed to make it through my childhood with no cell phone and my mom always knew where I was and what I was doing, and she knew how to get a hold of me. Weird.
Report Post »BOUGHT YOUR SILO YET?
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:26amHmmm. But- did we actually prosecute sex offenders back then or did we let them off because they are just “misunderstood.” Until the people of this country get their sanity back, my child will carry a cell phone- period.
Report Post »BHOMustFail
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:21pmI’m a teacher and our District encourages students to carry their phones and encourages teachers to find ways to integrate their use into the learning process when possible (online surveys, photos of work/projects, calculators, etc). The biggest issue is the phones are to be away unless the Teacher asks the students to take them out during class. Unfortunately you spend lots of time telling students to put the phones away, etc. I take them up if I see them in use and return them at the end of the day. For chronic issues, we can take them up, turn them into the Office, and the student/parent pays $15 to get them back from the Office.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:32pmSchool is a Place of Education… and a Cell Phone is a Toy… where just a few years ago, Teachers took Toys aways from Children, and Never Returned them!
It seems the Teachers have become as Dumb as the Students!
Report Post »EP46
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 3:32pmHow about if teachers “TEACH” and let the students play with phones on their own time. Kids do not need to learn how to use a phone….let them use them for homework if that is your plan, but how about while you are in the classroom YOU teach the students something.
Report Post »OlefromMN
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:18pmThe argument that a parent needs to reach their child if an emergency arises is a weak one. Emergencies have been happening long before cell phones existed. I would have no real problem with them being used at passing time or lunch hour as long as public decorum is observed. But NO in the classroom. Your kids phone call is a distraction to my kid’s learning time.
Report Post »JACKTHETOAD
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:18pmThere‘s no ’R‘ in ’cell phone’.
Report Post »OlefromMN
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:45pmI just got that (sorry, publicly educated). R as in the 3 Rs. Good one!
Report Post »