Area News
Sign of the times: What to do with phone-toting students?
The Cumberland County School System is trying to find a way to deal with cellular phones being used during the school day.
John Saylors, supervisor of instruction, told the policy committee of the Cumberland County Board of Education, "What the administrators have asked to be addressed is consequences for use of cell phones at inappropriate times. What do you do when a child is caught with a phone that is in violation of current policy?"
Current board policy says students may possess personal communication devices including pagers, cellular telephones or personal digital assistants in school, provided that during school hours and on a school bus the personal communication device remains off and concealed from view.
Currently, the policy says possession of personal communication devices is a privilege which may be forfeited and violations of the policy may result in disciplinary action against the student and confiscation of the device.
Saylors presented the committee with a copy of the consequences used in Oak Ridge. The first time a phone is taken, the item is returned to the parent on a date determined by the principal. The second time it is confiscated, it is returned to the parent at the end of the semester.
Roger Eichelberger, principal of Stone Memorial High School, said, "I have no problem holding a phone for 24 hours. I do not agree with holding a phone the second time for the rest of the semester. If I'm a parent and I'm paying $50 a month for that phone, there's going to be a war."
Director of Schools Patricia Ragsdale said holding the phone for longer than a day would be a fifth amendment property right violation. Ragsdale suggested a graduated penalty. On the first offense, the device would be taken away for the balance of the school day and then returned to the parent. On the second offense, the student can't have the phone on campus for one month. The next time, the student would not be allowed to have the device on campus for the remainder of the semester. If violations continue, the privilege to have a phone on campus would be terminated forever. Ragsdale said if the student did bring the device back on campus during that time, the battery could be taken, thereby disabling it. The parent could pick the battery up at any time.
Mary Smith, 7th District representative, said, "From what I hear they've been doing, I don't know it's a good idea to have cell phones floating around anyway."
Janet Graham, principal of Cumberland County High School, and Saylors said there had been problems with text and picture messaging, both in the high school and from the high school to elementary schools.
Graham said, "We have had lewd pictures on cell phones. We have had some ugly, ugly rumors they are sending back and forth. Then you're dealing with the aftermath."
Orville Hale, 8th District representative, said he was concerned the phones were being used for cheating in classes.
Saylors said, "Initially cheating was the major thing, but it's these pictures they're sending to each other. They are rather embarrassing."
Graham noted many schools did not allow the devices in the building.
Hale said, "The easiest thing for us to do would be to disallow cell phones, but I don't think that's in the best interest of the students' safety. There could be a situation at school where they need those for their own safety. Therefore we've got to walk a fine line when it comes to disruption of the class and the entire educational environment."
Ragsdale was directed to develop procedures that would be included in the student handbooks.
Hale said, "I don't see any reason to change the current policy. The fourth paragraph says it all. Possession of a personal communication device is a privilege. If you deem Clyde doesn't need to have his cell phone at school, the next time you see him with it, suspend him."
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