TITLE : Should schools update cell-phone policies?
School officials across the nation are taking another look at their cell phone policies. As cell phones are becoming very common, school administrators struggle with how to regulate the burgeoning number of phones kids carry.
The idea of having a cell phone at school creates a dilemma. Parents and students enjoy the convenience of cell phones and safety concerns also play a role in a society marred by school shootings. On the other hand, mobile phones also have become irritants for school administrators. It is very disruptive when phones go off in a classroom. It interferes directly with the education process.
A decade ago, many school systems imposed an outright ban on the electronic devices. But things have changed now. Cell phones have become an essential part of daily life now. It started with parents going in a panic over their children's safety, and it got passed along to their children. They feel they must have a connection any time, any place. At the same time, it is helpful for students to be able to phone their parents for a ride home.
Cell phone carriers leap on new opportunities and parents weigh how to stay connected without incurring major billing charges. Many families keep a cluster of phones and allocate minutes within their calling plan for each family member. Some families require their teens to pay for any additional time used from their allowance or pay from a part-time job.
A number of school systems are revising their cell phone policies. Many parents want their students to have them, and schools have come to realize it is unrealistic to simply prohibit possession. In Michigan, for example, a decade old ban on students carrying cell phones was lifted last year.
School officials want to make sure students don't have distractions during the school day. Most schools that allow cell phones tell students not to use them in classes. Some schools are more lenient than others.
However, deciding on student rules for cell phones becomes increasingly difficult as the technology advances. Phones equipped with cameras and wireless Internet access spark concerns of potential abuse and cheating. Students could use cell phones with text-messaging capabilities to share answers. Students also could use camera phones to photograph exams, then send the pictures to others.
Q1. How cell phones have changed your way of lives? If you don't have, why not?