by Ernest Smartt

Created on: November 16, 2008   Last Updated: January 12, 2009

When I walk into classrooms and see students using their cell phones and listening to music on iPods, I am pretty sure that this usually means there is less learning taking place in that classroom. When students are free to use these electronic devices in one classroom, they expect to be free to do so in other classes as well. Inconsistencies in observing the rules and holding students accountable, will lead to other more serious issues for the students and the staff. When these students go to the next class and they cannot use these devices, they become more difficult for the next teacher. It just makes it harder on the teachers who do enforce the rules. We must be consistent, and persistent in enforcing these rules.

Cell phones should be allowed on the campus for emergency use only. There are times when a student have a real emergency such as someone bullying them, trying to fight or otherwise hurt them. Cell phones can even save a life in some of these situations. There are times when a student can call the office to report a fight or theft, or such, if he has witnessed it. If there is an incident in the classroom and the teacher cannot communicate it, a student can use the cell phone to do so. They can be a good thing.

Cell phones should be required to be off at all times. If there is an emergency at home, the parent can call the school and the student will be informed. There is no reason for the parent to call the student in these cases and disrupt the class. If there is a fire or a lockdown for a real incident (not a drill), students would be permitted to call home and inform their parents. At that point, the phone should be turned off, or certainly not be being used just to call other students to gossip.

In an actual emergency, there needs to be some structure for the use of the cell phones. There needs to be some training designed to inform students and staff just when and how to use the cell phones in the event of an actual emergency. Speaking on a cell phone can attract a terrorist who is on the campus if they hear the person talking. Too many phones going at the same time can clog up the lines and prevent important calls from getting through. Students using their phones during these situations, but not for emergencies, may miss an important communication from emergency staff or other authority. This could be serious enough to cause them to miss instructions to move to a safe place, or just to sit quietly.

There is not a time, other than the emergencies

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