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TMCNet: Store cell phones until the class period is over

[March 14, 2010]

Store cell phones until the class period is over

Mar 14, 2010 (The Pueblo Chieftain - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A teacher called me Thursday to complain about our article in that morning's edition describing how a local principal had collected cell phones during state testing.


John Hull, principal at Sunset Park Elementary School, said he collected phones from students and teachers to reduce the chance of cheating on tests.

The teacher who called didn't identify herself, but said our story was lacking.

"The real problem, and you didn't get to it, is this: cell phones should be banned in classrooms," she said. "I'm not saying that students should be prohibited from bringing them to school, but once in the classroom, those phones should be placed in cubicles -- like mailboxes -- until the class is over." I told her I assumed she felt that way because kids could use their phones' texting function to share answers. "That's only part of it," she said. "You must be an old-timer, because there are many more ways cell phones can be used improperly in schools." Ouch, I thought, as I told her I have carried a BlackBerry for several years and almost know how it works.

"Let me give you just a few examples: "Students not only can text each other, they also can text outside resources to obtain answers. These kids are so good that they can put their hand into a pocket and text.

"They also can access the Internet. With the new touch phones, they can Bing or Google a question and get an answer in seconds.

"They can text a question to someone outside the school, say a parent or an uncle or somebody else, and the person can call back with a prearranged signal. For example, one vibration for true, two for false." OK, I told her, I can see how they can be used for cheating. What other improper uses are there? "You really are an old-timer," she said, but at least this time with a laugh. "They can record not only audio but video as well, and they can do it in compromising locations. Think bathrooms and locker rooms. They can send inappropriate photos of themselves to other kids. The list goes on and on.

"These parents who think it's OK for a student in grade school to have a cell phone in the classroom just don't get it. And it's very, very difficult for teachers to stay on top of these things." Makes sense, I told her. But what about the issue of safety? If a school is attacked or there is some other sort of problem, doesn't it make sense for kids to be able to call authorities and their parents? Or what about situations -- God forbid -- like Columbine, in which kids are holed up in various parts of the school. Cell phones could be used to advise authorities on the locations of the perpetrators, and also to advise them on where students are hiding and need help.

"I agree completely," she said. "That's why I advocate a mailbox-type storage unit, where the phones would be placed in vibrate mode or even off during class periods. If there were an emergency, the kids literally would be only 2-3 seconds away from their phones.

"I'm just saying that we as a school district should not allow kids to have cell phones in their pockets or purses or backpacks or wherever during class periods. I don't think it would be that difficult, and it definitely should happen." All of that makes sense. The costs would be minimal for each classroom to have such a small storage unit; it would only take a minute or two for kids to store their phones then collect them at the end of class; and they still would be able to communicate with parents and authorities.

It also would eliminate the need for teachers and other educators to confiscate phones that are ringing or being used improperly. If the students were to keep their phones on them despite such a storage system in place, it would be easier to exact punishment -- like confiscate the phone until parents arrive for a parent-teacher conference.

Steve Henson is The Pueblo Chieftain's managing editor. He can be reached at 544-0006, ext. 410; or online at shenson@chieftain.com.

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