Cell phones in schools

I (and my fellow board members) received the following e-mail today from a teacher at one of our local high schools. He expresses some valid concerns related to students being in possession of cell phones while on campus. Our district is certainly not the only one having to deal with this modern intrusion into the educational process. Educators, now more than ever, need the support of parents nationwide to combat this distraction from the educational mission of schools in America.

Tim Harris
_____________________________________________

From: Brown III, Royal A.
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2008 8:59 AM
Subject: Electronic Device Policy

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning. I was prompted to write to you for the first time in the 14 years I have taught at Winter Haven HS by the article in the Ledger, dated July 17 entitled "Polk Schools Plan Digital Crackdown" and the article in todays Newscheif entitled "Student Code of Conduct OK'd".

By way of introduction and credentials, I am a Senior ARMY JROTC instructor who cares about my students and their success in HS and beyond. One of the ways I do this is by enforcing the PCSD Code of Conduct. Achievements include Winter Haven HS Teacher of the Year for 2005 and selection as one (1) of the eight (8) Finalists for Polk County Teacher of the Year. My colleagues in the other 10 JROTC programs in Polk County selected me as their volunteer spokesperson in matters dealing with the School District in 2002.

I applaud the District for recognizing the major problem we have with cell phones, ipods,MS3 players etc. in our high schools, the disruption to the education process these create and the need to do something about it. Quite frankly the major problems started with the School Board policy to allow cell phones in schools - just out of sight.

Cell phones and other electronic devices cuase daily confrontations for my JROTC partner and me with students in our hallways between classes. When we try to confiscate cell phones, we are told off most of the time. . The situaiton is a lot worse than 3 expulsions described in the Newschief article. I don't blame our Administrations or Teachers - we have tried hard to enforce the policy and have been overwhelmed with this problem. From my observation, most teachers have given up out of frustration.

Unfortunately, many parents are a major part of the problem. I know from personal experience that many parents call or text their students frequently even while in class and students do the same, especially by using hidden texting. Cell phones are used in the hallways and at lunch and even in classrooms. Cheating has definitely been facilitated. A mob mentality has taken over among so many students who find comfort in their own violations by noting their peers violating the code of conduct as well as their parents. We could spend most of the day trying to enforce breaches of current school board policy rather than educating our students.

So what is the solution? It's not warning posters (these will be laughed at and torn down); its not information videos (unless they are major Hollywood type productions with lots of graphics and action) and its not emails or letters to parents (most of which will be ignored) - these are only band aids aimed at symptoms but not the problem. The solution is to change the policy to ban cell phones and other electronic devices from campus altogether.

Yes, I know some parents will be angry about a ban, but allowing them and other electronic devices under any conditions undermines the education process and places extra burdens on those who try to enforce policy. This policy also implies we can't trust our School Administrations to be able to handle any emergency situations that come up. I know we live in an electronic world but we should control it not the electronics controlling us. Our campus is blanketed by Administrators, Resource Officer, Deans and other Resource Teachers with radio contact with each other and the Office and direct access to telephones. They have demonstrated their abilities to handle emergencies and don't need parental involvement after being alerted by students on cell phones.

As I said, it is true that banning of these devices would be unpopular with many of our hip generation X and Y parents and with most students. Success in life requires respect for authority and adherence to rules and laws and they need to learn this. It took us several years to see improvement through our more stringent dress code and the wearing of IDs but it has worked. A ban on all electronic devices except calculators would take time to implement but my analysis and experience suggests this is the only answer to this growing problem and is also the view of most teachers I know.

Thank you for your consideration,

ROYAL A. BROWN III
Lieutenant Colonel (Retired)
Senior Army Instructor
Winter Haven High School