What is your opinion?

Danalana wrote: I am friends (on Facebook) with a lot of the teenage girls from my church. Everyday, I see status updates from them, WHILE THEY ARE IN CLASS. And they're not done through computers; they are using their cell phones to access the internet.
My thing is, I think cell phones should be taken away during class. These kids sit and text each other or play on the net all day long--they're sneaky little creatures I guess I just thought teachers made them hand over the cells while class was in session. How are they really learning if they're spending the day texting and surfing the net? I don't know, it just irks me. What's your opinion?

A&A'smommy replied: yeah I agree cell phones shouldn't be aloud in school PERIOD..... BUT on the other hand what about emergencies?? I dunno thats a tough one... I definitely do NOT think they should be using them during school!!

Danalana replied: I understand in case of emergencies...but I think maybe they could place them in a certain tray/place at the beginning of class, and then get them back after class.

stella6979 replied: I personally think cell phones are WAY overused these days, by everyone, not just teenagers. All I know is I never had one as a kid and I survived. I can understand a Parents sense of security though, knowing that their child can reach them at any time if something were to happen, but I do not think they should be allowed in schools.

mom21kid2dogs replied: Our school district does not allow cell phones in the building. It's not allowed for students or staff.

jcc64 replied:

I'm surprised that hasn't been challenged yet. Why can't the staff have them?
In the school district in which I'm working, kids can have them but they MUST be kept out of sight. The effectiveness of that policy, like most things, depends upon the vigilance of the teacher. I've seen kids texting under desks, behind books, asking to go to the bathroom so they can make a call, etc...
I do like the idea of kids having phones in case of emergency, but I can see how they are yet another distraction in our kids' already overloaded lives as well.

redchief replied:
I agree that there has to be restrictions on cell phone use in school. Txtn is what kids do to communicate today, but school's not the place for this. Accessing the internet for social networking is another no-no in my book. Kaitlin's high school has a policy similar to the one Jeanne described and they're strict about it. Our children are a product of the information age and just talking to other parents I see that our kids almost see their cell phones as a right instead of a privilege. Perhaps we as parents should be very clear about what cell phone use is acceptable and what is not, with the penalty for breaking the rules being loss of the phone for a determined and socially painful period of time.

luvmykids replied: I'm baffled by the amount of texting that goes on in general I'd much rather have an actual conversation, I ask Nikka every single time I see her and she can't explain this phenomenon to my satisfaction

Anyway, I don't think they're appropriate at school. I do understand the emergency factor but I think keeping them in a backpack is close enough in the event of one.

Twelve Volt Man replied: When I was in school, we weren't allowed to pass notes in class. I can't imagine why kids are allowed to use cell phones.

A&A'smommy replied:
I'm embarressed to say that I LOVE to text

Nina J replied: My friend complained to me once that she had to go to her daughter's high school to get her daughter's phone. The students can't have their phones at school and if they're found with them they're confiscated and the only way to get it back is have a parent go collect it Apparently though, the first 2 times the parent goes gets it plus a detention, the 3rd they post it to the kid in the mail. So I guess they're hoping that kids won't want their phone posted, and possibly lost or broken, so they won't bring them.

MyBabeMaddie replied: I can remember texting during class in high school... We would get in A LOT of trouble if we got caught because we weren't allowed to have them in class... The rule was they must be turned off and kept in the locker all day, of course nobody followed the rules... My brother is a senior now and there have been many instances where my mom has gotten phone calls from the teacher because he was texting and they kept his phone and wouldn't give it back at all - thats not right either thats stealing... Considering I am one to sit in my current classes and text I can't talk much.

lisar replied:
ditto

BAC'sMom replied: At our Jr High and High School students are allowed to have a cell phone but they are not allowed to use them. If they get caught talking on the phone or texting the phone is confiscated and turned over to the Principle. The parent has to retrieve the phone from the principle, if the student gets caught again the parents are fined and don’t get the phone back till they pay the fine.

Boo&BugsMom replied: I can see having them for emergencies and what not, but they should be kept in their lockers, IMO. There is no reason they need them in class or anything for that matter while in school. If there is an emergency it's not like there are not enough adults around or other phones in the office they can use. No different in college, IMO...they should not be allowed out while class in in session. I find that to be just plain rude to the instructor.

Danalana replied: Me too...very disrespectful!

redchief replied:
We ran the embarrassing risk of having the teacher read our intercepted notes aloud in class, too. I shudder to think what a teacher might find to share on some of these kids' phones.