NYC's Ban On Cell Phones In Schools Sparks Challenge

[bobolito]

NYC's Ban On Cell Phones In Schools Sparks Challenge

By K.C. Jones
InformationWeekMon May 22, 5:11 PM ET

Opponents of New York City's ban on cell phones in public schools plan to challenge the rule in court.

Civil rights attorney Norman Siegel told am New York that the ban has no rational basis and will not stand up to scrutiny. Siegel said there is no reason to prohibit phones, which can be turned off.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, and officials with the New York City Department of Education have argued that cell phones disrupt the learning environment. United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten told the newspaper that each school should be able to set its own policy because as much as teachers dislike misuse, they recognize that the phones can be a tool for safety. He also pointed out that they are almost a necessity for students who travel up to two hours to get to classes.

Officials banned cell phones in public schools nearly 20 years ago, but many schools did not enforce the policy until last month when security guards used new metal detectors to confiscate more than 800 phones.

National School Safety and Security Services, a Cleveland-based consulting firm, has received numerous inquiries in the past five years about whether phones should be allowed in schools for emergencies.

"On a day-to-day basis, they are disruptive to the educational environment," the group states on its Web site. "This has also been the general position of many school districts over the years."

Though students have used cell phones during terrorist attacks and shooting rampages, the group states that phones can be used to call in bomb threats, detonate bombs and to pass on misinformation and overload networks during a crisis.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/cmp/20060524...N5bnN1YmNhdA--

[MOTOhooligan]

The problem is that schools don't have to prove it's legal, just that phones cause a distraction.

Is it legal for them to tell students what they can and cannot wear, say, do? No, it isn't, but those rules are enforcable.

In all the schools I ever attended you couldn't wear hats indoors. They would tell you to remove the hats and if you didn't they would take them away. That's horribly illegal, but what can you do? The school says it causes a distraction so they can have the rule.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by MOTOhooligan The problem is that schools don't have to prove it's legal, just that phones cause a distraction. Is it legal for them to tell students what they can and cannot wear, say, do? No, it isn't, but those rules are enforcable. In all the schools I ever attended you couldn't wear hats indoors. They would tell you to remove the hats and if you didn't they would take them away. That's horribly illegal, but what can you do? The school says it causes a distraction so they can have the rule.

I'm sure someone with more legal background can chime in here, but I believe that technically a minor in school is under the guardianship of the school while there. It would be no different than if your mother told you to take off your hat. While you're under her roof, you live under her rules.

-Jay

[MOTOhooligan]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue It would be no different than if your mother told you to take off your hat. While you're under her roof, you live under her rules. -Jay

That's what I'm saying... how can there be a legal challenge to the cell phone rule if the students are under the guardianship of the school? Their school, their rules.

I'm not saying it's right but that's just how it is.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by MOTOhooligan That's what I'm saying... how can there be a legal challenge to the cell phone rule if the students are under the guardianship of the school? Their school, their rules. I'm not saying it's right but that's just how it is.

I would hope its right, otherwise if the administration and staff of the school can't establish authority then very little learning, if any, will actually take place.

-Jay

[Fire14]

I think the biggest point is the kids & taking some responsibility in making sure the phone is off or in Silent mode in the morning.

The school where my daughters go have a rule of no cellphones in school, but if the phone is on silent or off then they won't say anything or take the phone away, if they have it on ring it will be taken away & if it's on Vib. and the teacher hears it they get 1 warning. So far my daughters haven't had there phones taken.

I also think if the kids use them responsibly and do what they are told, if something major happens at the school the kids have a chance at getting help or calling for help.

[bobolito]

What about jammers? I know they are illegal, but if there is so much concern over distractions, they should make them legal as long as they are turned off automatically in the event of an emergency.

[chuikov]

The guy in the article says some kids travel two hours to get to school in NYC? Is this true?

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by chuikov The guy in the article says some kids travel two hours to get to school in NYC? Is this true?

I know when I was a kid we spent over an hour on the bus, but we lived in a rural area, and we were the first stop. That bus was ing COLD in the winter because it took a while to heat up. I remember we used to all be huddled around seat 7 for the first 15 minutes, because that's where the heater vent was.

-Jay

[AnthroMatt]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue I'm sure someone with more legal background can chime in here, but I believe that technically a minor in school is under the guardianship of the school while there. It would be no different than if your mother told you to take off your hat. While you're under her roof, you live under her rules. -Jay

You are correct. I believe the legal term is something like in loco parentis?

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by chuikov The guy in the article says some kids travel two hours to get to school in NYC? Is this true?

With the traffic in NYC anything is possible .
I don't know if they really do travel that far or long, since they have a lot of schools in the city, depends on how they setup where the kids need to go, and that would be a very early start in the morning & long way home.

[MOTOhooligan]

I think if the phones are off or on silent and are not being used in class, they should be allowed. I don't think they should make it so that students can't bring them to school but obviously, if they are being used, ringing in class, the teachers should be able to take them away and give them back after school.

If someone is a repeat offender, make the parents come get the phone but don't make it so responsible kids can't have phones with them.

[bobolito]

Originally Posted by chuikov The guy in the article says some kids travel two hours to get to school in NYC? Is this true?

You could easily spend two hours to get from Manhattan to Brooklyn in morning rush traffic.

[Fullstrength]

Will these schools be provider "free" calls for students are necessary, or when they need a ride etc etc. ?

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by Fullstrength Will these schools be provider "free" calls for students are necessary, or when they need a ride etc etc. ?

Of course not, that's why they have the payphone in the entryway to the school... to make $

-Jay

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue Of course not, that's why they have the payphone in the entryway to the school... to make $ -Jay

What's a Payphone?
They don't have payphones anymore in or near the schools where i live, in fact they are very hard to find anywhere now.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by Fire14 What's a Payphone? They don't have payphones anymore in or near the schools where i live, in fact they are very hard to find anywhere now.

Here the schools all have payphones in the entrance lobbies.

-Jay

[roamer1]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue Of course not, that's why they have the payphone in the entryway to the school... to make $ -Jay

I've been somewhat involved in the payphone business for a number of years and I know for absolute fact that the kickbacks, erm, commissions coming from payphones are a BIG reason schools have issues with cell phones.

NYC's hard stance on the cell phones in schools issue is ridiculous, and is yet another example of school administrators (and to some extent Bloomberg) losing all touch with reality.

-SC

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by roamer1 I've been somewhat involved in the payphone business for a number of years and I know for absolute fact that the kickbacks, erm, commissions coming from payphones are a BIG reason schools have issues with cell phones. NYC's hard stance on the cell phones in schools issue is ridiculous, and is yet another example of school administrators (and to some extent Bloomberg) losing all touch with reality. -SC

Thanks, You've been gone for a while there. Good to see you back.

-Jay

[billp]

if students are not aloowed cell phones on school property the it should go for the staff as well pluss did or did not a student with a cell phone aid the cops during a recent lock down at some school a couple months a go by letting the police know where the acused gun man was?
it all boils down to the fact that the nyc schools dont want a jerk of a teacher being caught a a camera phone being abusive or cunduction there selvs in a inaporiat manner.

[daniel 711]

Originally Posted by billp if students are not aloowed cell phones on school property the it should go for the staff as well pluss did or did not a student with a cell phone aid the cops during a recent lock down at some school a couple months a go by letting the police know where the acused gun man was? it all boils down to the fact that the nyc schools dont want a jerk of a teacher being caught a a camera phone being abusive or cunduction there selvs in a inaporiat manner.

You must be a student in a NYC school, making a lame statement like that! Anyway, your spelling and grammer kind of give you away

[billp]

sorry dan did not go to nyc schools nyc is a nice place to visit but
as for what i said i school disc. dose have a law suit on it to a teachers actions caught by a student. from your reaction you must be a nyc teacher

[GJMOO7]

Students should be allowed to bring a cell phone to school.After all,alot of kids do travel to school either by train,bus or taxi.If there parents need to get in touch with them for any reason,they can be easily reached.I hope a Judge and the NYC Counsil will override Mayor Bloomberg ruling and permit the students to enter the school building with their phones.It is very important for students to have a cell phone on them while going to school for various reasons.For example:I bring my (16)year old daughter to school every day and i also pick her up as well.If for some reason i cannot take her or pick her up or if i am running late,i will either send her a text or voicemail message
telling her the situation and that i will either send her a car service to pick her up or how long it will take me to get there since i am coming from work.
she will get the message when she turns on her phone at the end of the day.
She will contact me if she is running late herself so i won't get concern about
where she is.Also,if she is in a car service,she will call me and let me know that she is in the car and she will tell me the car number as well.I had to get special written permission from her principal to bring her phone into the school
so the school security will not take it away after she goes thru the metal detector.Because of the kids who would use the phones in school and use it to cheat on certain tests,all the good innocent kids have to suffer from this.
Of course,we all have to take the good with the bad.I hope all goes well and the ban can be lifted.It will take a huge load off of each parents mind knowing that their kids can be reached.