Do school officials really have this right? - Page 2

Our parents are given a copy of the school policies ang guidelines every year. They sign a form that states both the student and parent are aware of the guidelines.
Cell phones are not permitted in class. They may be in the locker, but must be turned off. Use of a cell phone other than before or after school will result in its being confisgated and kept in the office until the last day of school.

I had and have no issue with my kids following policy. They will have to do so in the workplace as adults. We regard the school as their workplace.

And another thought, our policy for bomb threats states that we must not use our walkie-talkies or cell phones as they are known triggering devices. Do you really think the kids will follow that policy?

Every school I went to from kindergarten up to grade 12, if anyone was caught passing notes they were made to stand up in front of the class and read the note out loud.

I have to agree with Jana and Kim, and maybe it is because we are in close proximity to not one, but two scenes of school shootings. We didn't need cell phones when I was in high school because there wasn't even the threat of emergencies like those! But it was kids with cell phones who were able to tell the police where the shooters were at Columbine (not that it helped because the police were unprepared for anything like that, but they were still able to give police better information). It was kids with cell phones who were able to tell police where the shooter was at Platte Canyon, and they were prepared. And it was because Emily Keyes had a cell phone that she was able to tell her family that she loved them one last time before she was killed. It's a different world these kids live in today, and there shouldn't even be rules about keeping the darn phones in lockers, IMO. They should be OFF during class, but they should be allowed to have them with them in class.

IF the kids are texting during class, it should be treated just like passing notes, and I have no problem reading those. Not out loud, but I never agreed with that on paper notes either.

This situation is different, IMO. Had they suspected the kid of smoking dope or dealing dope, then fine. They would have reasonable suspicion to search the texts of illegal activity. Smoking cigarettes? I call shenanegans on that. It may have changed, but as far as I know by the letter of the law minors cannot buy cigarettes, but it is not illegal to possess or smoke them. And to try to entrap him or his friends by texting them using his phone is complete BS.

Which I think is horrible. And just because lots of schools do it, doesn't make it the right way to handle things.

I always had notes taken away from me but the teachers NEVER read them in front of the class.