Dear Editor,
Congratulations and three cheers to the school board. Finally,
they approved a long-awaited policy that limits the use of cell
phones by students while on campus.
Dear Editor,
Congratulations and three cheers to the school board. Finally, they approved a long-awaited policy that limits the use of cell phones by students while on campus.
As reported in the Dispatch, “the policy was established to provide students with a learning environment free of distractions. The policy prohibits elementary students from possessing a cell phone; limits use to before and after school for middle school students but gives the high school students more freedom by allowing them to use them only between classes. I agree with the first two grade levels of restrictions, but would like to see high school students limited to the same restrictions as the middle schoolers – no cell phone use between the hours of 8am to 2:50pm. Absolutely no exceptions.
I completely agree with Mr. Van Herk’s comment, “I think it is ridiculous that kids have cell phones in school.” And, I think a comment made by a student was ridiculous by saying, “the administration is more concerned about it than the teachers. If such a statement was true, then why do most teachers have written on the board, “No Cell Phones, No Food or Drinks Allowed, only bottled water? ”
This same student was quoted as saying, “I had a teacher once whose grandson was dying. She got calls all the time. It wasn’t considered a distraction.” It’s unfortunate this student can’t see the difference between a student and teacher’s phone ringing in class.
For this policy to work, all the administrators, all the principals, all the teachers and all the students need to follow this new policy, but as usual the burden will be placed on the teachers shoulders to enforce this new policy. I hope all the high school teachers get tough with their students and apply a one strike policy – if you come walking into the classroom with a phone in hand, if your phone rings in the classroom, if you text message or make a call, you will be sent to the discipline office, your parents will be called and a one-day suspension will be given.
It’s a shame the board had to indicate this policy, because of one or two students per classroom that can’t keep their cell phone turned off and kept in their pocket or backpack. I will be waiting for the board to ban students from bring CD players, or any other electronic music playing device to school.
Alan L. Johnson, Gilroy
