School cell phone bans topple

Schools are capitulating to demands of parents and market realities, and allowing students to carry phones.
The New York Times

The story "School cell phone bans topple" published September 29, 2004 at 6:27 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

Content from The New York Times expires after 7 days.

Schools Need to Be Smart About It!

It is my opinon that schools will be forced to put up cell phone disrupters - devices that scramble cell phone signals inside the school, just like many hospitals do. They can be turned off at 3pm or whenever school is over but during the school day there is simply NO reason that children NEED to user their phones. I'm sure pay phones are available if a call is absolutly necessary.

[dante1811]

this is why my kids will go to private school...

And it has nothing to do with cell phones.

"There's a feeling across the land that it just *ain't* a big deal anymore," said William Scharff, president of the American Association of State Policy Services, a national association of school boards.

[mdunckhurst]

I am a single mother that works all day, my daughter goes to school and they do not allow cell phones on campus. Do not get me wrong, I do not believe that cell phones should be used during school time, but to take them from students whom carry them for emergencies is not a solution. I live in a tornadoe belt and also need my child to call me when school desides to close early, because I need to send someone to pick her up, as we do not live in the best area. There are no public phones on campus. My problem is that it seems that all the drug dealers in the school are able to keep there cell phones on them, while good students have them taken away. My real point here I guess, is yes cell phones should not be allowed on during school hours, but a child should be able to carry one in there possession for emergency purposes.