Cell Phones At School. Yes? No? Maybe So?

Students are getting frisky about their rights and want some privileges set in place. 

 There is one main topic no student or teacher can agree upon. The use of cell phones and other electronics on school property. This issue first arose when students started getting their technology and cellular devices taken away before school even started. Now students are revolting to get their rights back by talking back and writing and signing petitions that students have written. To get to the bottom of this story, I interviewed the Principal of Stoller Middle School, Mrs. Richey, and two students who go to our school, Ian Kennedy and Ali Heinz. Their perspectives, compared to Mrs. Richey’s were as different as apples and oranges, but they were as interesting as ever.

  I first interviewed Ian Kennedy and Ali Heinz on Tuesday April 27, 2010 during second period. When I told them about the current situation, they have a lot to say in return! They started by saying that they were really surprised because they hadn’t heard about anything of the sort until now. Then Ali continued by saying, “Since school starts at 9:05, why take it away? There is no reason to.”

Then the other question dreaded by the staff came up. The use of electronics and cellular devices during lunch. These answers were more straightforward.

A student texting while waiting for the bus

  “We should be allowed to do so. I mean, if it doesn’t affect our learning, then why not? Cell phones - [and other electronic devices] – aren’t distractions during lunch! It’s a way to catch up and relax for the only thirty minutes of free time we have during the day. The other five minutes that we have, we spend collecting our stuff and going to the next class that we have.” he exclaimed. Ali followed by saying, “It just doesn't make any sense!”

After I interviewed those two, I felt that they had excellent points, until I interviewed Mrs. Richey two days later on Thursday April 29, 2010 during lunch and heard her side of the story.

  She began by saying that the only reason she was taking away students cell phones (and other technology) is because we have a strict policy against it. When I asked her why we have the policy in the first place and why we aren’t allowed to use technology at lunch, she gave me an answer that just blew us away.

  “The main reason we have that rule, is because of safety.” she said, referring to the many cyber bullying cases these days consisting of teens and too many sources of media. “If students use their cell phones during their free time, we (the staff) would have to be supervising the students and we also would be losing time for other activities.” she continued. Mrs. Richey then said that she wouldn’t be able to replace cell phones and other technology that students lose.

  But what really astonished us is what she said in the end. “But, if there was an app on the iPhone, that could help students learn, I would allow it to be used in classrooms.”  This showed that teachers don’t really hate us; they are just concerned about us, but are willing to compromise as well.

So, after doing a thorough investigation, we finally came up with our opinion on this extremely controversial topic. Students should be allowed to use their cell phones and other technology in the morning before school starts, but the minute the morning bell rings, they should put their technology away. Also, students should be allowed to use their cellular devices at least two times a week during lunch, so we compromise a bit as well. But in the end, the decision still belongs to the board of staff.