cell phones in school and marijuanna possession among youth

Published on January 19, 2006 By Ziggystyles In Life Journals

This is sort of a branch off of my post yesterday about student accountability. One thing I have been thinking about is cell phones...well that and student usage of marijuanna. Pretty much, seperate things, but still.

One thing I see alot nowadays are cell phones in school. The school I work at has a cell phone policy, in that cell phones are not allowed on campus. Students ignore the policy and bring them anyways, sometimes flat out refusing to turn them over to administration.

I absolutely do not feel that cell phones belong in school because of many reasons:

1. They aren't needed. Any student that needs to be contacted can be contacted through the office, in case of emergency.
2. Text messages are often sent between students in the class (cheating can happen), between a student in and out of school...etc.
3. students play games on them
...etc.

I guess I have no problem if a student brings their cell phone to school and shuts it off before getting on campus and then turning it on when they leave...but I just don't feel it needs to be on during the day.

If there is an emergency, the school has ways to deal with them such as calling tv and radio stations to inform them (in case of a situation like a bomb threat). The school has phones that the students themselves can use if they need to contact a parent.

Marijuanna usage is another concern I have. I don't know...I heard about its usage and knew some people that smoked it and stuff when I was in high school, but now...it seems rampant.

Lets keep in mind that it is currently illegal, because I don't want to get into a legality debate on it. With the fact that it is illegal...what should happen when a teen gets busted with the drug or paraphenallia? I talked a police officer recently and he talked about how the courts hardly hand out a punishment anymore for such cases unless its more extreme like cocaine or meth. I don't think that is right. I believe that since it is illegal, students should be held accountable for the choices they make when it comes to getting busted with smoking or possession and they should have some sort of reasonable punishment. I don't believe they should get away with it.

What do you think about these two issues?

Comments

just john

on Jan 19, 2006

For the cell phones - I don't like it but with the MeGo and the Firefly (4 preprogrammed numbers on a basic no frills phone), expect to see them in class rooms you would never have expected to see them in. (Yes, six year olds with a phone)

As for drugs in school, I was still under the impression that if you get caught at school, you are expelled. Who cares then? They won't be your problem. They just get to move to another alternative school with other wasteoids just like them.

Gideon MacLeish

on Jan 19, 2006

First: Marijuana: While I'm an advocate for decriminalization, I don't believe it should be used by minors. And never in a public school (you wanna start some hippie commune school where they can go to class stoned? Your choice!).

Second: Cell phones: While there may be a FEW extenuating circumstances (I can't think of any, but I'm willing to concede they might be there), I don't think having them in school is a good idea, frankly. Although until schools start implementing policies against cheating (interesting, isn't it that some schools will expel a kid for possession of Midol and just make them retake a test for cheating?), I don't think it's effective to debate those implications RE: cell phones.

Also, just to note: even if you ban cell phones, there are MANY short range, text messaging devices that don't need cell phone towers to operate

(PSSST! Banning cell phones should extend to teachers as well).

Ziggystyles

on Jan 19, 2006

As for drugs in school, I was still under the impression that if you get caught at school, you are expelled

I think it depends on the situation...each one is unique. They arent expelled however...if anything, they get a couple of days of Suspension out of school.

well actually I was talking about high schools since that is where I am working and see the problem...but yes Im sure the problem does happen in elementary schools as well...but I don't think its that big of a problem...the kids aren't as rebellious as they are in high school. Elementary kids might have them for various reasons and so do high schoolers..but high schoolers consider it right up there next to internal organs...something they can't be away from.

Also, just to note: even if you ban cell phones, there are MANY short range, text messaging devices that don't need cell phone towers to operate(PSSST! Banning cell phones should extend to teachers as well).

Well true...but I don't see those yet, I know they exist...but they havent been popping up around here.

Also...I think its fine for teachers to have them because they don't need to use them during the day unless it is a break or prep time. I have mine with me only because of the fact that it is my only contact number so out of habit, I keep it with me....but even with teachers, they should be shut off unless they are being used.

Silver_and_Jade_Tears

on Jan 20, 2006

Also...I think its fine for teachers to have them because they don't need to use them during the day unless it is a break or prep time. I have mine with me only because of the fact that it is my only contact number so out of habit, I keep it with me....but even with teachers, they should be shut off unless they are being used.

Teachers are an example, and they shouldn't appear so hypocritical, therefore, the ban should apply to teachers also, as Gideon said.

Also, you say that it is your only contact number. If students should get messages from parents, and other contacts, through the office, then that should extend to ALL attendees of the school, administration, and students alike.

If you are allowed to use the phone in your break/prep time, why shouldn't students be allowed to use them in between classes, or on lunch?

Ziggystyles

on Jan 21, 2006

The thing is that the phone is not a distraction for me. I don't have a need to use it during the day. I carry my phone with me out of habit , but if I need to make a phone call, I use the regular school phone in my room. I don't use my cell to text message other people while Im supposed to be teaching, or to play games while Im teaching. If the cells were allowed in between classes, I guarantee that would lead to more tardys being handed out as students are more concerned with their social life than learning anything. Id be willing to bet that most of the teens that have cell phones don't need them...they just want them, and get them...like Ipods.

Texas Wahine

on Jan 21, 2006

If you are allowed to use the phone in your break/prep time, why shouldn't students be allowed to use them in between classes, or on lunch?

Ummm...because teachers are adults?

I get to do lots of things that my kids don't get to do because I've reached a level of maturity and responsibility that they haven't.

It would be hypocritical for teachers to model abusing a cell phone, but it's not hypocritical in the least for a teacher to model the appropriate way to manage such technology. There are privileges that come with being an adult, and trying to create some false sense of equality between adults and children contributes to many of teens' problems.

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