• Safety Tips:
• Cell Phones in School: Changing Perceptions
• School Safety: The Ring Isn't The Only Distraction
• Statistics: Teen Cell Phone Use On The Rise
• One Opinion: Open to Discussion

Cell Phones and Kids

Cell phones have quickly become an important part of our daily lives. In fact, some industry experts estimate that more than one-half of our country's population owns at least one cell phone. Given this, it's easy to understand how the issue of allowing cell phones in schools has become an important topic.

Cell Phones In School:

It's no secret that cell phones have not been welcome visitors in most schools. Similar to their predecessor, the beeper, many school officials and administrators look at teenage cell phone usage as being synonymous with drug use or dealing. Consequently, the vast majority of schools have adopted (and unilaterally enforce) zero-tolerance policies that inflict hefty punishments on students caught with a cell phone on school grounds.

But, events such as the Columbine school shootings in 1999 and of course the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, have caused many school officials to take a second look at their cell phone policies. As a result, some are lifting bans that have been in effect for years.

While some states have enacted legislation that governs the use of cell phones and other electronic devices in all public schools, other states such as Maryland, Illinois and Virginia allow individual districts to set their own policies.

There are three common policies: the outright banning of cell phones on school grounds; allowing students to have phones in their possession as long as they are turned off and not used during school hours; and, requiring students to turn in their phones to the principal's office at the beginning of the school day (and allowing students the time to pick them up at the end of the day).

Like most contentious issues, the question of whether cell phones should be allowed in schools seems to have as many supporters as it does detractors. To complicate matters further, this is not only an issue that high school administrators must grapple with; middle school and even some elementary school principals are faced with the same dilemma.

Proponents of allowing cell phones in schools say that they want to be able to easily reach their children should the need arise. Given the busy schedules most kids (and their parents) have these days, this does seem like a reasonable request. And, with the ever-present threat of terrorism, many parents feel better sending their kids off to school knowing they can reach them in the event of a local, regional or national emergency.

Opponents, however, argue that the telephones only serve to create additional distractions. In addition to the inevitable ringing during class time, there have been many reports of cell phones being used to place bomb threats in schools (especially on days when an important test is scheduled).

One thing is clear: unlike other fads that have come and gone over the years, cell phones are here to stay. In the space of a few short years, these devices have become a vital tool to help us manage our lives.

However, like any issue, there is more to consider here than the classroom distraction created by a ringing cell phone. Thanks to ever improving technology, text messaging has become a popular cell phone feature. And, as would be expected, this has created a whole new set of issues for school administrators.

School Safety:

Cell phones have only been widely available for the last fifteen years or so, yet it's difficult to remember how we managed without them. Because the designs of today's cell phones emphasize compactness, it's almost even more difficult to imagine how we managed to tote around those heavy, bulky first generation models.

And, while it would have been nearly impossible to conceal an early model cell phone in your pocket, many of today's phones easily fit in the palm of your hand. That's an attractive feature, particularly for those who like to use text messaging.

Text messaging, similar to computer instant messaging made popular by AOL, is a relatively new (and very popular) feature in today's cell phone technology. In essence, teens use their cell phones to send brief messages to their friends in place of actually placing a call. For many teens, cell phone text messaging has become almost as popular as actually talking on the phone.

Needless to say, it didn't take students long to recognize a few more important uses for text messaging capabilities: "sharing" information (i.e. answers) during tests and passing notes during class.

As a result of this latest innovation, schools adopting cell phone policies that allow phones to be brought to school, generally lean toward restricting the phones to non-classroom areas. Unfortunately, that doesn't totally eliminate the problem.

Many students also carry Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) to help organize their schedules, keep track of assignments and take notes. Many PDAs also come equipped with wireless Internet access, making it possible for students to easily communicate with their classmates during instruction or test time. Then there's always the temptation of playing a game or two of black jack or video poker while making it seem as though the student is busily taking notes.

And, as would be expected with any electronic gadget, there is the increased risk of theft. Students leaving their cell phones or PDAs in lockers or backpacks may return to find those items missing.

Clearly, school officials have much to consider when weighing the pros and cons of allowing cell phones and other electronic devices into their schools. Like many issues involving our kids, there is no clear answer. And, as technology continues to improve and become even more sophisticated, the issue promises to become more complex.

Statistics :

According to Teen Research Unlimited (www.teenresearch.com), cell phone ownership begins at an early age:

A few weeks ago, a friend told me she was considering buying a cell phone as a 13th birthday gift for her daughter. To be honest, my first reaction was not a good one.

I remember being 13. At that point, I wasn't all that interested in talking on the phone. My days were consumed with school, band practice and roaming around town with my friends. We certainly didn't need cell phones to check in with our parents. So, why are cell phones considered a "must have" with today's 13 year-olds?

Then it hit me. It's not the 13 year-olds that have necessarily changed; it's the world around them that has undergone a significant transformation. By and large, kids are no longer free to roam the neighborhood for hours on end. When they venture out, it's usually with a specific destination in mind and a reminder to "go straight there" as they are leaving.

Our world has changed (almost overnight, it seems) into a scary, unpredictable place where few people are trusted. Knowing we can easily reach our kids (and they are able to reach us) makes sending them out a little easier to do.

Still, I'm not sure that young teenagers (i.e. those without a driver's license) absolutely need to have a cell phone of their own. I wonder if, at this age, kids have the maturity to own a telephone. For some, its simply considered to be a high-tech fashion accessory and the temptation of making prank telephone calls, calling friends in the middle of the night, or having the freedom to talk whenever they want, may be too great.

As for my friend, she said that the pros outweighed the cons and gave her daughter the cell phone for her birthday with the understanding that having the phone was a privilege, not a right. It's too early to tell how her daughter will handle this newfound responsibility, but as the saying goes: so far, so good.

I'm just happy my daughter is only 7 and that I'm at least a few years away from having to make the same decision, because honestly, I still don't know what decision I would make.

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