N.Y. court upholds school cell phone ban
New York City's controversial prohibition of cell phones on school grounds can continue, a state appellate court has unanimously ruled.
The city's school system instituted the possession ban in September 2005 as part of its efforts to maintain school security and discipline, contending the mobile gadgets can promote cheating and harassment, and began confiscating them from students the next year. But parent advocates had challenged the rules as overly broad and irrational, arguing that cell phones were a "lifeline" for families trying to reach their students, particularly during their commutes and after-school activities.
In an opinion released Tuesday, the appellate court disagreed sharply with the parents' stance.
"The cell phone ban does not directly and substantially interfere with any of the rights alleged by the parents," Justice Angela Mazzarelli wrote in the opinion.
The justice also took a shot at adult cell phone use, writing:
The Chancellor's determination that a mere ban on cell phone use would not be sufficiently effective was not irrational. It is now routine before theater, movie and other cultural presentations attended by adults, for patrons to be asked to turn off their cell phones. Even then there is no guarantee that the cell phone of an inattentive person will not ring at an inopportune time. While the vast majority of public school children are respectful and well-behaved, it was not unreasonable for the Chancellor to recognize that if adults cannot be fully trusted to practice proper cell phone etiquette, then neither can children.
The fight may not be over yet: The group of parents battling the ban is considering asking the state's highest court to look at the case, according to a New York Daily News report.
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In a mass emergency situation, having parents contacting their children and children contacting their parents would 1: cause cellphone congestion and may prevent really emergency calls from getting out 2: userpt the authority of the teachers that are responsible for the care of the children, causing disorder.
Ideally children should be allowed to carry phones as long as they are off, and can check them during breaks and the like. But practically, kids being kids this can't happen.
Also parents already have a way of contacting their kids in a emergency, call the office, the office can get their child. This seems far better then allowing direct calling to the child in class.
I find it disheartening that for reasons which sound fearful and lacking of understanding "...contending the mobile gadgets can promote cheating and harassment..." that schools fail to teach a tool which will be integral to our children's success in life once they leave school. Schools should be teaching our children how to use the tools on the cell phones including productivity management (calendar apps, todos, alerts), etiquette (better to learn it in school than on their first job!), emailing, sms, Internet searching from the phone, social networking (that's how contracts and sales will be landed, jobs offered, and an edge above the rest secured), and so on.
Address issues of "cheating and harassment" on an individual basis and let's not limit our children's education based on speculation!
More here including a video where teaching cellphones in school proved to be successful: http://realityme.net/2008/02/23/teach-cell-phones-dont-ban-them/
Cell phones weren't an issue when I was in school, and we all managed to survive, and get dropped off & picked up when needed.
It's called planning, people.
The problem is kids don't do what they are told (DUH). So given that, there is little alternative but to take away the cell phone.
you want. Schools are ENFORCED to be attended by the kids.
Thats two different tiers not proper to compare to.
They won't be able to seize all the cells if this holds up, for
safety of the child. If they (kids and admin) try jammers that
would cause huge lawsuits if there was a true emergency.
Some of the kids must have gone the next level and went to
VOIP through wireless from laptop to laptop phone
communications with bluetooth headsets.
I agree, there is a generational gap. When the phones came out
in bricks back when the costs were sky high (I had one of
those!). You didn't use them unless you HAD to. Now prices are
as cheap as a few gallons of milk for a months service.
This is murky territory. It's not a private company, it's dealing
with underage that don't have constitutional rights yet, so where
they courts step is not on solid footing. The only students that
they MAY have issues with are those FEW that are of legal age if
any exist still in the system for a few months. Those of age may
have rights to carry phones, even though a phone is nothing
along the lines of a firearm or other items one earns the right to
carry at age 18.
- Students Do NOT Need Cell Phones
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by Belinus
April 23, 2008 10:49 AM PDT
- The "lifeline" thing is just an excuse. If a parent needs to speak with their child, they can call the main office who will either call down to the room the child is in or have them brought to the office to take the call. It is just that simple.
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1 | 2 | Next 10 Comments >>In the event of a mass emergency, the school would go into lockdown anyways and parents would have to come pick their children up physically.
As for the cheating thing: You can prevent the disease by removing the pathogen. If you can prove that cell phones serve a legitimate, educational purpose, then fine. But if you can't then there is no reason for them.
Cell phones are a CONVENIENCE, not a right.